A Heartwarming Tale of Courage and Grand Theft

So, this recently-unemployed dude is home during the day, doing something in his basement, when he hears someone break in upstairs. As they are stealing his TV and computer, he sneaks out the back while calling 911 and spots their getaway van idling at the curb.

So he did what anyone would do. He stole it.

The 911 dispatcher was on the phone as [Patrick] Rosario peeked around the corner, hiding behind a garbage can. That's when he noticed the exhaust sputtering out of the white Ford Windstar van parked out front.

Seeing no one, he quickly approached. The keys in the ignition, the humming engine, the unlocked driver's door: It was all too perfect.

Against the 911 dispatcher's advice, Rosario announced he was going to take it. What jury in the world was going to convict him, he thought?

He drove up a steep hill away from the house, figuring whoever was ransacking his home wouldn't be able to keep up on foot. He stopped a few blocks away in front of a friend's house and waited for police. ...

Meanwhile, back at his home, a passing driver visiting an across-the-street neighbor saw the burglars exit the house. According to the detectives' report, "the males looked back ... and appeared startled."

"I wish I could have seen the look on their faces," Rosario said. ...

Even as detectives took Rosario's report, the story apparently was making the rounds. Rosario said he received more than a few high-fives from other responding officers.

"Two pulled up, and they looked over at me and go, 'You stole their car — way to go, dude. That's awesome.' Another told me that I just made her month."