'Grand Theft Auto': Keeping America safe from crime
Turns out that "Grand Theft Auto," the game that many of America's moral watchdogs fear will turn the nation's youth into a vast gang of pimp-smacking, carjacking hoods, actually prevents crime in some cases. [Missing Links]
Turns out that "Grand Theft Auto," the game that many of America's moral watchdogs fear will turn the nation's youth into a vast gang of pimp-smacking, carjacking hoods, actually prevents crime in some cases.
Houston TV station KTRK reports that a couple of kids were at home playing one of the "GTA" games last March when burglars broke into the house.
The game was at one of the many points at which our hero, Tommy Vercetti, is on the run from the cops, who advertise their presence by blaring out phrases like "This is the police! YouÂ’re surrounded!"
The real-life burglars heard that snippet, thought it was the real thing and promptly bolted from the house. Local police had no problem rounding up four suspects--three of whom have already been tried and convicted.
"The burglar...thought this was the actual police and panicked," said Michael Elliott, Galveston County assistant district attorney, who still gets a chuckle over crooks "being apprehended by PlayStation."