Crayon on a paper bag doesn’t make a convincing license plate, Indiana cops say

When police pulled over to help a stranded driver in Indiana, they discovered something a little odd about his license plate: it was written in crayon, authorities say.

State troopers in Steuben County pulled over when they noticed a driver on the side of the road with a flat tire on Thursday afternoon, police said in a news release.

Joshua Lewis-Brown, 20, told the troopers he wasn’t able to change the tire and would need a tow truck for the tan Toyota Camry, the release said. They were about to make the call when one trooper noticed something a little off with Lewis-Brown’s license plate.

It was handwritten in crayon on a paper grocery bag, police say.

After investigating, the troopers learned the car had been stolen in State College, Pennsylvania, and that Lewis-Brown did not have a driver’s license, the release said. He was arrested at the scene.

Eventually, police discovered that the car had been stolen when the owner left it running outside a Pennsylvania grocery store, according to the release. The owner had wanted to keep the car warm while he went inside to run a quick errand.

Lewis-Brown was charged with a felony count of possessing stolen property and a misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle without a license, the release said. Lewis-Brown is also on probation for grand larceny and will ultimately be extradited back to Pennsylvania.

Police say car theft is common in winter months and urge drivers not to leave their cars unlocked and running.

This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 12:39 PM with the headline "Crayon on a paper bag doesn’t make a convincing license plate, Indiana cops say."