Man Steals Fire Truck in Florida, Goes on Joyride

May 5, 2011
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- An Orange County man is under arrest for allegedly taking an Apopka fire truck out for a joyride. However, WFTV learned on Wednesday that firefighters made it easy for him to steal the truck in the first place. Devone Rucker, 23, smirked in his mug shot that was taken just hours after police said he stole the Apopka fire truck on Monday. Rucker told police it was like a scene from the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds." But Rucker is no Hollywood actor.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. --

An Orange County man is under arrest for allegedly taking an Apopka fire truck out for a joyride. However, WFTV learned on Wednesday that firefighters made it easy for him to steal the truck in the first place.

Devone Rucker, 23, smirked in his mug shot that was taken just hours after police said he stole the Apopka fire truck on Monday.

Rucker told police it was like a scene from the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds."

But Rucker is no Hollywood actor.

Police said he broke into at least one car at Apopka Fire Station Number 1, before discovering that the doors to the fire truck were unlocked and the keys were inside.

With lights flashing and sirens blaring, police said he drove erratically through the streets of Apopka.

A witness called 911. He pulled over for police shortly afterward.

"He said something like, 'He just wanted to have fun,'" said Steve Popp of the Apopka Police Department.

But his fun comes with up to five years of possible jail time. He's charged with four felonies, including grand theft and interfering with the use of a vehicle used to extinguish fire.

A spokesperson with the fire department said firefighters typically leave the keys inside their vehicle, but then lock up the truck with the keypad. However, someone forgot to lock up.

That firefighter faces disciplinary action for the mistake, which could have led to a much different outcome.

"Him driving at an erratic speed and manner definitively could have cost someone their life," said Popp.

Rucker has been convicted on drug charges in the past. He's currently being held under mental evaluation at the Orange County jail.

Copyright 2011 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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