Recently in Grand Theft Auto Category

MONTEBELLO -- Police arrested a man Thursday on suspicion of stealing a car from a Whittier Boulevard auto dealership, authorities said.
Luis Diaz, 39, of Los Angeles was booked on suspicion of auto theft, as well as on an outstanding arrest warrant, Montebello police Lt. Andy Vuncanon said.
He's accused of stealing a 2009 Chevrolet Impala from Chevrolet of Montebello, 310 W. Whittier Blvd., the lieutenant said.
An employee had left the keys in the Impala while working an another nearby car about 12:30 p.m. when Diaz jumped in and drove off, Vuncanon said.
The worker called police and provided a description of the stolen car and thief, he said.
Officers spotted the car driving near the Montebello Town Center and summoned backup as they followed the Impala westbound on the 60 Freeway.
Police ultimately pulled over the Impala and arrested Diaz without incident at the 60 Freeway and Atlantic Boulevard in East Los Angeles, Vuncanon said.

INDUSTRY -- Sheriff's deputies arrested two teenage gang members on suspicion of stealing a car late Friday, authorities said.
The boys, ages 16 and 17, were booked on suspicion of auto theft, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Steven Katz said in a written statement. Their names were not released due to their age.
Deputies spotted a stolen car in the area of Nelson and Orange avenues about 10 p.m., the lieutenant said.
The deputies followed the car to the parking lot of a nearby liquor store, he said, where the teen suspects fled on foot.
They were found in the area a short time later, Katz said, and taken to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.
Officials added that the car had been reported stolen from Monrovia on Wednesday.

PASADENA -- Officials from Union Station Homeless Services are asking for the public's help in raising money for a new cargo van.

Their own van was stolen several weeks ago by an intruder who broke into the parking lot during the night and drove it away.

This is an excerpt of a Brian Day story running in tomorrow's newspaper. I think it enhances my theory that the world has turned into a giant game of Grand Theft Auto IV:

Three recent video game store robberies in which thieves seemed more interested in games, not cash, might be connected, authorities said Tuesday.

Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Major Crime Bureau are investigating a possible link between robberies at GameStop locations in Rosemead, Pico Rivera, and Bellflower that occurred between April 22 and Sunday, officials said.

The most recent incident was at a Rosemead GameStop store, located at 3000 San Gabriel Blvd., said sheriff's Sgt. Tri Hong.

Four robbers stole six PlayStation 3 video game systems and fled, said store manager Jovan Sanchez.

At least one handgun was used in the crime, Hong said.

Sanchez described the robbers as well-mannered and who said "please" as they demanded the video game systems.

 

I doubt there's any statistics to prove or disprove this theory, but I think the number of police chases increases nationally when new versions of Grand Theft Auto are released.

The latest version of the game, Grand Theft Auto IV was released a couple of weeks ago, and all of a sudden, it seems that I'm reading about more and more pursuits.

Here's some examples:

Video shows police beating restrained suspects.

Police pursuit ends in arrest.

Police pursuit ends at LA Harbor.

Police pursuit requires air support.

San Diego cops chase man after he steals three copies of GTA IV

Coincidence?