Fuel thieves burn own car!

Three men trying to steal fuel from a New Zealand farm on Monday ended up setting fire to their own car. One click, a boom and the car burst into flames.

Three men trying to steal fuel from a New Zealand farm on Monday ended up setting fire to their own car.

HT Image

Police said the trio had siphoned diesel into a petrol-driven vehicle. When their car would not start, they examined the fuel pipe using a cigarette lighter.

One click, a boom and the car burst into flames.

"It wasn't a major whodunnit," senior sergeant Ross Gilbert told, from the small North Island town of Waipukurau, about 140 miles northeast of Wellington.

"Fortunately for them, there is no criminal charge for stupidity."

The men, aged 18 to 19, escaped injury but were charged with theft.