Miffed cell suscriber goes on tower-destroying rampage in APC

We'll take our warfare small-sized and mobile-friendly any day of the week, thank you very much. Seems an angry cell subscriber likely had the ride of his life wiped all trace of frustration from his soul by rampaging through Sydney destroying six cell towers in an Armored Personnel Carrier. Charged with malicious damage, break and enter, predatory driving, and driving in a dangerous manner, the mad driver was arrested on his way to a seventh appointment. The driver's name and carrier in question aren't mentioned, but we can assume he won't be worrying about cell reception where he's likely to end up -- unless, of course, it was all just an accident.

[Joel @ Jul 16th 2007 6:56PM]

Holy crap that's awesome!

[cmdwedge @ Jul 16th 2007 6:58PM]

He managed to destroy 4 Telstra towers and 3 Optus towers, but service was apparently not interrupted.

Win!

[sir_ufm @ Jul 17th 2007 1:26PM]

What I love about this story other than the fact that he lives around the corner from me, is that the only reason he stopped was ...he stalled the tank, revving it up to hit another tower!

[brett @ Jul 16th 2007 7:03PM]

...upon being arrested, the man was overheard saying "Man! That was the coolest GTA mission I've ever played!"...

...he was later seen outside the police station, with only $100 to his name.

[3rdsun @ Jul 16th 2007 9:14PM]

GTA Sydney Syndicate coming soon.

How the hell he got an armoured personnel carrier anyway.

[Miike @ Jul 16th 2007 7:03PM]

Haliburton was quickly contracted to do the repairs.

[BobbyMelbourne @ Jul 16th 2007 7:12PM]

Google is your friend.

A much better article.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Bail-refused-for-man-in-tank-rampage/2007/07/14/1183833809964.html

[Oban @ Jul 16th 2007 7:18PM]

Predatory driving? now that's sexy. "What are you in for?" "predatory driving f-tard, what of it!"

[Marek @ Jul 16th 2007 7:24PM]

Yep, this is pretty much the coolest thing ever.

[humpty @ Jul 16th 2007 7:31PM]

Life imitates art...

[AshR @ Jul 16th 2007 7:32PM]

An update on the case. here

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22082746-29277,00.html

he was indescriminate in his "rampage" taking out towers and communication buildings from all 3 major providers.

"Former-employer Greg Morris said Patterson had once done telecommunications work for the army and believed mobile phone waves had harmed his mental state. "

^^ So that's the reason enought to take an APC for a "joy ride"

[emjoi @ Jul 17th 2007 12:16AM]

Well, yes. Apparently they DID affect his mental state. Lucky he just happened to be restoring a TANK. If he'd been restoring an old bicycle the story would be been far less spectacular.

[chris.kozanecki @ Jul 16th 2007 7:36PM]

Obviously they were a sprint customer.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 16th 2007 7:38PM]

I had heard that cell phones did increase the risk of accidents...

[freakfunk @ Jul 16th 2007 7:42PM]

That either takes balls the size of water melons or a brain the size of a pea, but i think its a damn good way of making your voice heard!

[Karan @ Jul 17th 2007 12:57PM]

"Can you hear me now?"

[Shmoe @ Jul 16th 2007 8:05PM]

Too bad he didn't fire the gun to take out a tower.
Was he wearing a tinfoil hat?

[spyboy @ Jul 16th 2007 8:07PM]

"Can you hear me now..bitch?" LOL

[ryanworrell @ Jul 16th 2007 8:54PM]

beat me to it. lol

[Mr.Ironic @ Jul 16th 2007 9:08PM]

Googles "How to steal a tank"

[KYDS3K @ Jul 16th 2007 9:26PM]

he'll be getting "cell reception" for certain now . . . very WARM cell reception . . . don't drop your phone!

[Andrew @ Jul 16th 2007 9:35PM]

Here's a video clip showing him ramming one of the towers :)

http://www.abc.com.au/news/video/2007/07/16/1979944.htm

[Neebs @ Jul 16th 2007 9:56PM]

I'm 1337, I'm nine, I fight dirty/Rolling around in my APC...

[Katie @ Jul 16th 2007 9:59PM]

Road rage reaches a new level. ;)

[engadget @ Jul 16th 2007 8:06PM]

Not really, a few years ago there was an man that stole a tank in Las Angeles California that went on a rampage.

[Gisch @ Jul 16th 2007 9:28PM]

Actually, the tank was in San Diego, CA

[Cru Jones @ Jul 16th 2007 9:59PM]

Engadget needs to change the title and the description of the event. He wasn't a miffed cell subscriber. He was a former employee of both the teleco company and the place he stole the APC from.

[robothouse @ Jul 16th 2007 10:06PM]

IM IN UR TANX, DESTROYIN UR TOWERZ

[R3AL1Z3 @ Jul 17th 2007 1:41PM]

made my day

[robothouse @ Jul 16th 2007 10:08PM]

Is it just me, or does that APC look really old? Seriously, was he from WW2, by chance?

[Danny @ Jul 16th 2007 10:11PM]

Yes it was vintage, 1956 is a number in my head but it could be wrong. He was restoring it for the owner that rents it out for school formals and the like sp he had full access

[spil @ Jul 17th 2007 9:54AM]

"the owner that rents it out for school formals"

Hey baby, look at this kickass tank I rented for prom, It's sure better than a crappy limo!

[andy @ Jul 17th 2007 11:41AM]

Wow, I didn't realize that Australia was that dangerous. I've never needed to rent an APC for any formal events here in the states.

[Sparky @ Jul 16th 2007 10:34PM]

Maybe he was pissed because Telstra does not like the iPhone.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/15/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xxvii-telstra-tells-apple-to-stick-t/

[John Doe @ Jul 16th 2007 11:31PM]

Niiice. This guy needs to team up with the dude who earlier this year drove his car into a carrier retail store. Go for maximum damage.

[James @ Jul 17th 2007 12:18AM]

As Cru Jones said, the man was a former employee of the Telecommunications company whose towers he destroyed. He was also a former employee of a business that had restored the APC (and another one similar) and rented them out for special occasions - like wedding receptions and school formals.

And service was indeed interrupted, but for only a day or so.

[Sparky @ Jul 18th 2007 6:18PM]

Shotgun weddings?

[trancer @ Jul 17th 2007 3:01AM]

all i can do is laugh. seriously!

[spil @ Jul 17th 2007 9:56AM]

Apparently you can type, also.

[trancer @ Jul 17th 2007 4:59PM]

ahehe? how witty.

[tekdroid @ Jul 17th 2007 4:13AM]

Optus and Toll$tra deserve it :)

I mean, how irresponsible.
;)

[nosrednAneB @ Jul 17th 2007 4:14AM]

He stole the APC from a man who collected them, he suffered thousands of dollars of damage and the APC wasn't insured.

Also he was under the influence of drugs.

[Aroura Gate @ Jul 17th 2007 7:16AM]

Who knew EA was going to make a Battle field outback

[Daniel @ Jul 17th 2007 9:24AM]

pic from Telstra internal website
http://wonkothesane.com/blog/?p=33

[tiuk @ Jul 17th 2007 10:42AM]

Reminds me of the "killdozer" incident from a few years back (wikipedia it).

[buzweaver @ Jul 17th 2007 12:59PM]

Its cool, but not nearly as cool as the Abrams Tank chase from Cops (California) a few years ago. I tried to find some video of that chase, its a classic, a must see for sure.

[Timerider @ Jul 17th 2007 1:37PM]

Yeah, I think he got his idea from this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqpxeWQ_XJw
Reminds me of it.

[Timerider @ Jul 17th 2007 1:44PM]

Now companies know they can't just treat their customers like dirt.

[ratnikh @ Jul 17th 2007 6:44PM]

When they welcome him into jail he will get his cell reception.

[BuzWeaver @ Jul 24th 2007 11:33AM]

In an earlier post I mentioned a chase with an Abrams Tank, it was actually M-60 tank in Los Angeles.

Here is the video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1203730021721681764