Oregon car theft suspect asks officer for ride

[March 05, 2011]  SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- An Oregon car theft suspect who took off on foot in Salem was able to flag down a motorist for a ride. The only problem: the helpful driver was an undercover police officer.

The Statesman Journal reports the officer had been looking for the suspect Thursday and recognized the 31-year-old from previous contacts for other crimes. When the suspect knocked on the window of the unmarked car and asked for a life, he got one -- straight to jail. [Associated Press] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.