Press Release: Bluesmobile Theft at Bensenville speed shop
Vehicle stolen and recovered in 24 hour period
Bensenville, IL — January 26, 2011 — A strange chain of events that began with the theft of Reid Dawson’s beloved 1974 Dodge Monaco yesterday, January 25, 2011 leads to an iconic movie moment from the classic motion picture “The Blues Brothers” filmed in Chicago, IL in 1980. The Dodge is painted to resemble Jake and Elwood’s Bluesmobile. The theft of Reid’s own Bluesmobile occurred at his workplace, Sound Performance in Bensenville, IL during the hours of approximately 12:30pm to 6:15pm. Sound Performance is a local speed shop whose claim to fame is the venerable Toyota Supra in addition to specializing in turbocharged street vehicles and offer full tuning services, custom fabrication, and many other model-specific manufactured parts. Reid makes a 120 mile round-trip commute daily to Sound Performance after his business classes at Northern Illinois University. Reid noticed the car was missing at approximately 10:00pm that night but was able to confirm from a customer that the car was already missing by 6:15pm. The Bensenville Police were called and a report was filed. Reid immediately attacked the automotive forums he frequents in an attempt to get the word out along with creating a Facebook group with nearly 600 members of friends and family to inform as many people as possible.
Reid had come to the conclusion that the car was already stripped for scrap metal or would unlikely be found the following day. Luckily the latter turned out to be the case. At approximately 8:00pm, a phone call was received from the Bensenville Police that the Bluesmobile was found in Wilmington, IL. Ironically, the car was seemingly on its own Mission from God having been found not far from Joliet, alluding to “The Blues Brothers” movie where Jake had served prison time. The car was reportedly found abandoned on a small side road not far off Route 55. Further details were to be released the following day upon the return of the Bluesmobile.
Only an hour and a half later, another phone call was received from the Bensenville Police with new details. It turns out the car was not abandoned, but rather commandeered by a soon to be AWOL (Absent without leave) Navy enlistee. The runaway was camped out at a family friend’s house in Wilmington, IL where the car was previously believed to be abandoned. He is currently in police custody and will be prosecuted for possession of a stolen vehicle.
Reid was overjoyed not only to hear of the recovery of his Bluesmobile but also to learn that the criminal was found and the appropriate legal measures are being taken to the full extent of the law. The retrieval offered a happy end to a potentially heartbreaking story, despite the Bluesmobile lacking heat (other than the comforter in the front seat), windshield wipers, and offering pitiful fuel economy on Reid’s daily commute. It’s safe to say that the Bluesmobile has completed its Mission from God after being returned home in one piece.
Additional links:
Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!...0798998627663&id=180884368619126¬if_t=like
Google maps of theft and recovery locations:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&r...ocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ8gEwA
Contact:
Reid Dawson
(847) 363-3139
[email protected]
www.spracingonline.com
www.spracingforum.com