CA bank robber foiled by vanity plates bearing own name

Zach Bowman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Ford, Police/Emergency

There's no such thing as the perfect crime, but some criminals are clearly more perfect than others. According to UT San Diego, a man wearing latex gloves and sunglasses recently strolled into a Chase Bank in San Diego, pointed a gun at a teller and began demanding money. The teller wisely obliged, handing over $2,920 in cash before the robber took to his vehicle and fled in a white Ford Expedition. Onlookers were quick to jot down the vehicle's vanity license plate, which read ALMDUDE. It didn't take police long to track down the vehicle's owner, 27-year-old Robert Alm.

While we're not surprised to hear of a their using their own vehicle to flee a crime scene, using one with vanity plates proudly proclaiming the thief's name is something new. Alm has since been booked on suspicion of robbery. Police say the man is homeless and has been living in the Expedition.

CA bank robber foiled by vanity plates bearing own name originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Online car sales - is now the time?

Stuart Waterman — Sat, 27 May 2006 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends

Online sales are now a big and fast-growing part of U.S. retail sales, for everything from books to auto parts. True, the total amount of retail sales booked online is a small fraction of the total volume of consumer goods, but it is the fastest growing of all sales channels, tantalizing manufacturers with its efficiency and low cost (not to mention the potential boost to the bottom line).

This week, The Economist looks at the prospects for online auto sales in the U.S., a market locked in the grip of the nationwide franchise network of auto dealers. To date, attempts to sell cars online have not been promising, but things may (slowly) be changing.

With a whopping two-thirds of new car customers researching their purchases online and virtually complete access to the byzantine maze of rebates and incentives, consumers have been using their new-found knowledge to drive down the dealer's profit margin. This is making some dealers, notably consolidated dealer networks like Lithia and AutoNation, consider how to better integrate online retailing into their operations. As a direct result, AutoNation is launching its SmartChoice online service in June.

Meanwhile, financial institutions like Capital One and Chase (think auto loans) are looking at online auto retail channels as a way to streamline the buying process for their loan clients - using volume buying power to guarantee a fixed price for its customers before they set foot in dealerships. Capital One has partnered with Zag - an internet-based company that brings its car buying expertise to affinity and membership organizations (think credit unions, buyers clubs like Costco, etc.). Even Amazon is rumored to be looking at auto sales.

Is this the death knell for the dealership? Well, no. By law, independent online sellers cannot buy "factory direct" - they must buy their cars from a dealer. Besides, virtual test drives aren't very much fun.

Have you/would you bought/buy a car completely online through eBay Motors or another service? Fess up in 'Comments.'

[Source: The Economist - subscription required]

Online car sales - is now the time? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 May 2006 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments