Anthony Molina of Roseville, Calif., reached his tipping point when he pushed his Toyota Camry off of a cliff to avoid making car payments.
On July 26, 2010, Molina drove his 2008 Camry north of Interstate 80, his girlfriend following close behind in her car. While some young couples might go for a drive to find a romantic view, Molina was more interested in finding an end to his relationship with his Camry. Upon reaching Blue Canyon Road, the 24-year-old gave his car the boot by pushing it over a cliff. He then returned to his home in his girlfriend's vehicle.
The next day, Molina contacted both the police and his insurance company to report that the car had been stolen from outside his residence. A search warrant for cell phone records hinted otherwise, as they revealed that a call was made from Molina's cell phone to his girlfriend's cell phone the previous day, and the call had been placed from the Blue Canyon area.
Officers located Molina's rejected ride over a bank in the Blue Canyon area, and deemed it a total loss. Despite his efforts to cover up any involvement on the notarized vehicle theft questionnaire he filled out, Molina's auto abomination was discovered. He could serve a possible five years in state prison, and face fines of up to $200,000 for four felony counts of insurance fraud, including filing a false police report. The fines he has racked up far surpass the $400 monthly car payments he had been facing, so in this case it's fairly obvious that crime truly does not pay.
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