Discussion
Good to see that Rod has a good colour taste when it comes to Vipers!
Saturday, July 3, 2004 — A lawn maintenance worker fired from his job at Rod Stewart's house Friday morning was in the Palm Beach County Jail that evening, charged with the theft of Stewart's sports car.
The keys were in the bright yellow Dodge Viper when Donald Michael Smith drove it off the property, in view of a passing Palm Beach police officer who later identified him, according to a detective's report. The keys were missing when the 2002-model car was recovered Friday afternoon in some bushes by a canal in suburban Lake Worth, but were later located after Smith told police where he left them near a gas station dumpster, the report says.
Smith, 22, of 5624 S. 35th Court in Greenacres was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle with damage over $1,000. By 6:30 p.m., Stewart had his sports car back, on a flatbed truck in front of his house.
On Saturday, Smith made his first appearance in court and was released on supervised own recognizance. A date for his hearing is expected to be announced next week.
Smith had been working at the South Ocean Boulevard home of the legendary rocker for the firm of Lopez and Torres Lawn Maintenance, but was fired for "loafing" on the job, police reported.
Motorcycle officer Keith Medeiros noticed the car back out of Stewart's driveway between 10:30 and 11 a.m., and head south on Ocean Boulevard, police said. Smith's boss reported the possible theft of the car shortly after 11 a.m.
The Viper, which police valued at more than $50,000, was recovered shortly after 2 p.m. Friday on Ford Road near Kirk Road and 10th Avenue North. According to police, some children noticed the abandoned car and reported it to their mother who called police. The right front bumper had been damaged.
After contacting members of Smith’s family, police located him at the Tree Tops Motel in Lake Worth. According to police, Smith confessed to taking "Rod Stewart's Viper" and agreed to return to Palm Beach for questioning.
Saturday, July 3, 2004 — A lawn maintenance worker fired from his job at Rod Stewart's house Friday morning was in the Palm Beach County Jail that evening, charged with the theft of Stewart's sports car.
The keys were in the bright yellow Dodge Viper when Donald Michael Smith drove it off the property, in view of a passing Palm Beach police officer who later identified him, according to a detective's report. The keys were missing when the 2002-model car was recovered Friday afternoon in some bushes by a canal in suburban Lake Worth, but were later located after Smith told police where he left them near a gas station dumpster, the report says.
Smith, 22, of 5624 S. 35th Court in Greenacres was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle with damage over $1,000. By 6:30 p.m., Stewart had his sports car back, on a flatbed truck in front of his house.
On Saturday, Smith made his first appearance in court and was released on supervised own recognizance. A date for his hearing is expected to be announced next week.
Smith had been working at the South Ocean Boulevard home of the legendary rocker for the firm of Lopez and Torres Lawn Maintenance, but was fired for "loafing" on the job, police reported.
Motorcycle officer Keith Medeiros noticed the car back out of Stewart's driveway between 10:30 and 11 a.m., and head south on Ocean Boulevard, police said. Smith's boss reported the possible theft of the car shortly after 11 a.m.
The Viper, which police valued at more than $50,000, was recovered shortly after 2 p.m. Friday on Ford Road near Kirk Road and 10th Avenue North. According to police, some children noticed the abandoned car and reported it to their mother who called police. The right front bumper had been damaged.
After contacting members of Smith’s family, police located him at the Tree Tops Motel in Lake Worth. According to police, Smith confessed to taking "Rod Stewart's Viper" and agreed to return to Palm Beach for questioning.
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