Dive Brief:
- On Sunday, a man stole a hearse with a body inside from an Atlanta hospital; it's unclear whether the thief knew there was a body in back or if he just saw the car and seized the opportunity.
- The thief used the vehicle to smash through the gates of the Grady Memorial Hospital morgue after taking the keys from the funeral home driver.
- The suspect was later taken into custody.
Dive Insight:
Police said after stealing the vehicle, the suspect abandoned it a few blocks away and then tried to steal another car; the driver of that car was able to get away. The suspect then stole a Ford Explorer, which pulled up behind the hearse at a stoplight.
A funeral home spokesperson said the thief was a hospital patient. He was able to get the keys away from the driver because the hospital security guards who normally escort drivers to their cars were not available to do so that day.