Fast and Furious and Foolish and Felonious: Cops Nab 2 For Allegedly Stealing Civics

Two car thieves working for a crew out of Rockford were captured after one ran down a man who tried to stop them from stealing a tricked out Honda Civic, police said.

Permu Poe, 20, of St. Paul, MN, and Per Ler, also 20, of Rockford, were jailed Wednesday evening in connection with the alleged car thefts.

Poe and Ler were part of a team that stole a 1995 Honda Civic parked on Campbell Street near Midland Avenue Wednesday. Police described the Civic as a “drift car” and a “Paul Walker car,” and said it was equipped with gold rims and blackout lights, among other special features.

The owner of the car had been working on the vehicle and planned to take the steering wheel off as a safety measure before leaving it for the night, police said. The 18-year-old first stepped away for a short time and when he returned, saw his car pulling away and heading south on Midland.

One of the man’s friends happened to see the distinctive white Civic on Essington Road and followed it toward the Louis mall. The 23-year-old cut the Civic off at Hennepin Drive and got out to confront the car thieves, police said.

The driver of the stolen Civic reversed and crashed into a black Civic that was actually a tail car whose driver was working in league with the thieves, police said, then lurched forward toward the 23-year-old. The 23-year-old jumped onto the hood of his own car to avoid the stolen Civic, but was then hit in the leg by the black Civic behind it as it sped by, police said.

The injured man managed to get back in his car and pursue the Civics. He followed them to the Sears parking lot where the two men in the stolen white Civic bailed out and ran into the mall.

While officers were meeting with the injured 23-year-old and his 25-year-old passenger in the Sears lot, they noticed the black Civic driving past and chased it around the mall. Three men eventually ditched the black Civic and took off on foot. A foot chase ended with the cops capturing Poe and Ler by the Texas Roadhouse, police said. Their alleged accomplice escaped.

Poe, Ler and the third man all belong to a band of car thieves working out of Rockford, police said. The crew allegedly targets Honda Civics.

Detectives tied Poe and Ler to another pair of Civics stolen in Joliet, police said, and Poe turned out to have a warrant out of Ramsey County, MN, for felony fleeing and eluding the law in a motor vehicle. Poe was also charged with battery for allegedly running over the 23-year-old.

That young man suffered bruises to his left shin and upper thigh, police said. His injuries were treated at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center.