Dumb thief leaves police smiling

A man trying to rob a muffler store made the police's job very easy. He left his cell phone numbers with the store workers for them to call him when the person who could open the safe returned.

CHICAGO, March 25 (UPI) -- Chicago Police said a would-be thief was wounded by a police officer after a muffler shop he attempted to rob lured him back by calling his cell phone.

Police said the 18-year-old suspect attempted to rob Mufflers for Less at gunpoint shortly before 9 a.m. Monday, but a worker told him there was no money in the store and the manager, who is the only one at the store with access to the safe, wasn't in the building, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.

Investigators said the too-trusting thief then left his cell phone number with workers and instructed them to call him in for a second robbery attempt once the safe could be opened.

The workers dialed 911 and plainclothes tactical police officers from Grand Central District arrived at the store before workers phoned the thief to make his second robbery attempt.

Once the suspect arrived, an officer identified himself as police and the suspect allegedly pointed his gun at the officer. The officer fired off two shots, striking the suspect once in the leg. The suspect did not fire his gun.

The suspect was treated at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.