Stolen Hot Rod Too Hot to Handle

Indianapolis, IN – Indianapolis State Police said a 1932 Ford three-window coupe reported stolen to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department yesterday apparently became too hot to handle after it was featured on a local Indianapolis TV news station. The Deuce hot rod, reportedly worth $300,000, was allegedly stolen sometime Sept. 16 from a car hauler while in the parking lot of the Wyndham West hotel parking lot.

A concerned citizen saw what he thought was the vehicle sitting in the driveway of a vacant home in the 6100 block of Epperson on the southwest side of Indianapolis. The citizen called his friend, a state police undercover officer assigned to Vehicle Crimes Unit, who went to the address and discovered the vehicle in the driveway. A quick check of the vehicle’s VIN determined it was the stolen vehicle.

Earlier this week, a representative for the Deuce coupe's owner, Jason Smith, was reunited with the coupe at the Indianapolis State Police Post. The car was supposed to have been displayed at the Good Guys car show held this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The circumstances of the theft are still under investigation by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Indiana State Police.