Crime tip: When stealing gas from a police car be sure the officer isn’t in it.

Daily Record

A Monroe County [Michigan] sheriff’s detective on a stakeout to catch an arsonist arrested the suspect as he tried to steal gas from the officer’s cruiser. Officers were placed around homes currently under construction after police had gotten two arson complaints within the past week.

Several officers, including Detective Thomas Redmond, watched the 17-year-old walk away from his Lambertville home early Sunday carrying a bucket before he approached Redmond’s unmarked vehicle.

Police say the teen unscrewed the gas cap and started siphoning the fuel before Redmond got out of the car and chased him.