Senator carjacked for 22-inch chrome rims
According to the Oakland, CA police, carjackings in Raider Nation occur at the rate of about one per day. While we don't follow the news out of Oaktown on a regular basis, we're fairly certain most carjackings don't make the daily paper. So why then has the LA Times covered a carjacking in Oakland? Well, it seems that the victim was a state senator who police believe was targeted because of his car's flashy rims. 
Don Perata (D - The best line in the article comes in a quote from a police officer who, after hearing the Charger's description, responded, "We're talking about the suspect's car or the senator's car?" Even at 62, Senator Perata appears to have been keeping it real, so to speak.
UPDATE: The car's been found with the rims still on it.
Thanks for the tip, Dave!
[Source: Los Angeles Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
John R 3:37PM (12/31/2007)
A state Senator with (or without, now) chrome 22s. Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.
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meshies 3:44PM (12/31/2007)
The mans not aloud to have 22's? Why?I bet that Charger looked damn good.
VP 3:58PM (12/31/2007)
The man can have 22's if he is paying for it. Not when the taxpayers are footing the bill.
Whitie 5:45PM (12/31/2007)
Forget gun control. If the Senator was a stand up guy, he would sponsor legislation to limit rim diameter on taxpayer-owned vehicles.
iamhoff 2:32PM (1/02/2008)
And people think that the Governator is the funniest thing about politics here in Cali. Hell, if he was a freshman congress critter in his early 30s or so, I could see it. And besides that, why in the hell are my taxes paying for 22 inch rims that most certainly do not come on the stock vehicle? The State of California operates a state-wide fleet vehicle purchase program. They get bids from dealers all over the state to provide the best price for vehicle type X, configured with the following options. Cities and Counties can then take advantage of this program, and simply submit requests to the winning dealers and already know what the vehicle cost would be. Chevy Malibus (2 gen ago) and Dodge Durangos (again, the older ones) were past "winners" for the mid-size sedan and mid-size SUV categories. I know the Charger is a standard for the full-size sedan category, but I seriously doubt that the General Services department spec'd out 22s.
Kevin 3:41PM (12/31/2007)
If you are not the police and you walk up to my vehicle and tap on the window with a gun, you're going to get shot in the mouth.
You won't even see it coming. And I won't think twice about killing someone to defend my life, property or family.
Glad to hear the Senator is okay. Any idea what he was doing in Oakland?
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Alex Nunez 3:43PM (12/31/2007)
He represents Oakland in the state Senate.
db 3:50PM (1/01/2008)
So you carry an illegally concealed/loaded firearm in your vehicle?
tekdemon 7:00PM (1/01/2008)
Wouldn't that just get you shot by his accomplice in the car behind you that you didn't realize was his accomplice?
D. 8:35PM (1/01/2008)
No, Kevin wouldn't get shot by the guy's accomplice... because Kevin's passenger also carries a gun so you see, he would have it covered (more or less).
On a more serious note, thanks Kevin for reminding us how to solve this, it was almost illuminating.
WillDaThrill 3:51PM (12/31/2007)
So what was all the retoric a few months back about a certain kind of people liking rims over 20 inches? Even the man rides on duce dubs! Now that everyone knows, the preps and nay sayers can ride on large rims without fear of being down-classed.
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D.S. 3:51PM (12/31/2007)
I hope the price of those rims didn't come from taxpayers pockets, like the Charger itself did....
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LEPRANUTT 4:00PM (12/31/2007)
THE CAR WAS DONATED BY OPRAH AND THE RIMS WERE COURTESY OF HER FRIEND GALE, THIS WOMAN IS EVERYWHERE.
Xcountryflyer 12:18AM (1/01/2008)
My mom got carjacked once at gunpoint and she was driving an white 89 Toyota Cressida! Fortunately, they didn't lock her in the trunk. The car got recovered the next day--it had been abandoned. I guess they were eventually caught and had robbed at least one convenience store. Scary.
Oakland--I have no idea why anyone would live there unless they were living in the hills above it.
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Big Rocket 3:52PM (12/31/2007)
Maybe if our tax dollars didn't go towards buying expensive cars with expensive wheels for our politicians, and who knows what other pork-barrel luxuries they enjoy, the police might be a little better funded to deal with crime, including carjacking.
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Cyanolum 3:53PM (12/31/2007)
Subscription required for the update.
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Kevin 3:53PM (12/31/2007)
Thanks Alex. :)
I'm aware that he represents Oakland, I'm just curious what his purpose for going down there was?
It's always interesting to hear when political figures bring themselves down from their ranks to interact and socialize with the "common" people.
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Alex Nunez 3:58PM (12/31/2007)
Sorry. I know... it's such a privilege when our great political leaders walk amongst us.
The one thing I find myself wondering is whether or not his dubified whip was a HEMI or if it was a V6 playing dress-up.
Rick Lyon 3:57PM (12/31/2007)
Cars aren't jacked for wheels, or parts to be taken off. Cars are jacked so the thugs can drive around and 1) front as if they can afford such a car or 2) perpetrate a crime and be used as the getaway vehicle.
When is the last time you read about a car on bricks with it's wheels gone? 1987?
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Benfolio 4:10PM (12/31/2007)
All the effing time, foo.
I've worked for several car dealers in the past year and while ONE car diappeared and went to a concert and got trashed, many more were found in the morning on blocks with the wheels missing. When the Ram came out with 20"s, OH MAN did we get some thefts. Shoot, once they even stole STEEL WHEELS off a old Intrepid that was locked behind a gate! The Ram (and others) were out on the open lot.