Joliet Car Thief Asks Police For Directions To I-80: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A 35-year-old Chicago man is being lodged inside the Will County Jail after Joliet police say he stole a car from the BP Amoco gas station on McDonough Street late Friday afternoon. According to Joliet police, Lafayette Moore drove the stolen car several miles toward Joliet's far east side only to ask a Joliet officer for directions to Interstate 80.

Moore was arrested on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, Joliet police said.

Around 4:20 p.m. on Friday, someone left their car running and unlocked while they went into the BP Amoco to make a purchase. "The victim exited the store to find that their vehicle was gone," police reports show. Several minutes later, another Joliet officer was investigating a crash near Briggs Street and Spencer Road on Joliet's far east side when Moore approached him, according to police reports.

"Moore arrived in the stolen vehicle and asked the officer for directions to Interstate 80," Joliet police announced. "The officer provided the directions then realized that the vehicle that Mr. Moore was driving matched the description of a vehicle that had just been stolen."

Once the officer confirmed the car was stolen, he chased after Moore and pulled the Chicago man over near Briggs Street and Mills Road, police said. Moore was arrested without any problems, police said.

Moore was booked into the Will County Jail around 6:40 p.m. Friday. His bail was set at $20,000. He remained in custody Monday.

Jail logs indicate Moore has a Chicago address on South Laramie Avenue.