Retiree Wrecks Police Car with Crutch

Link : http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=4&u=/nm/20041015/od_nm/odd_germany_pensioner_dc

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German pensioner angry at being stranded at a railway station smashed up a police car with his crutch when police refused to drive him home or get him a hotel room, authorities said Friday.



When police in the western town of Gronau told the man late Thursday his train only operated Saturday, he stormed off to the station car park and unleashed his fury on their car, shattering its lights and mirrors and denting the bodywork.


Police found the man sitting down with the broken remnants of his crutch by the vandalized vehicle.


"That's what you get, I've made a nice mess of it for you," the 63-year-old man shouted to the stunned officers, police in the nearby city of Muenster said in a statement.


Police said the man, who could not stand without the walking aid, told them he would have done even more damage on the car had the crutch not broken first.


"The damage to the squad car totaled some 3,000 euros ($3,700), which the pensioner must pay," police said. "For that he could have bought himself a small car to drive to Muenster."