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Suspected ‘Bentley bandit’ captured; accused in Naperville auto theft
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Written by BILL BIRD   
Monday, 18 July 2011

Bond has been set at $31,000 for a man wanted by Naperville police and at least seven other law enforcement agencies. He is accused of stealing and then joyriding in luxury cars throughout parts of the Midwest and South.

Justin W. Durbin remained Monday night in the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center in southwestern Louisiana. He faces trial on charges of aggravated flight from a police officer, possession of stolen things and possession of a stolen license plate, according to Louisiana State Police Sgt. James Anderson.

Durbin, 22, of Altus, Okla., has been dubbed the “Bentley Bandit” for his reputed penchant for stealing luxury cars. That included the June 13 theft of a black, 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 valued at $33,993 from Mercedes-Benz of Naperville, 1569 W. Ogden Ave.

Police captured Durbin Thursday night near Sulphur, La. Police say he wrecked a 2007 Bentley reported stolen from a dealership outside Naples, Fla.

When police tracked him down about six hours after the wreck, Durbin “simply put his hands in the air and said, `It’s me,’” Deputy U.S. Marshal Corey Britt of the Fugitive Task Force said in a news release.

The license plate on the ruined Bentley read “DIAL 911.”

Florida authorities told Louisiana State Police they believed Durbin and the Bentley were in Lafayette, La., where a warrant for his arrest had been sworn out last year, Britt said.

Police located the car and pursued it, but the vehicle eluded them. On Thursday, state troopers and U.S. marshals tracked the car to a Lake Charles, La., parking lot and chased it to Sulphur, where it crashed, Britt said.

The driver tried to flee on foot. Helicopters from several police agencies and bloodhounds from a nearby state prison helped track Durbin, who was captured about 9:45 p.m. Thursday.

Britt said Durbin is wanted in at least eight states on charges that include grand theft auto, larceny, burglary, fraud and violating the terms of his probation, In addition to Naperville, those jurisdictions include Pima County, Ariz.; Escambia County, Fla.; Hamilton County, Ind.; Baton Rouge, La.; Prince Georges County, Md.; Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and Virginia Beach, Va.

Police say Durbin’s spree began in early June, when he talked his way into acquiring a black, 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 from a dealership in Fishers, Ind. The car was valued at $20,000.

He then traded up for the SL 550, abandoning the SL 500 in the Mercedes-Benz of Naperville parking lot. The SL 550 was found later in O’Fallon, Mo., where Durbin allegedly obtained another car under false pretenses. The spree continued into Florida and elsewhere.

Police say that in each case, Durbin told dealership employees he or his father wanted to buy the car. He stole license plates and affixed them to the cars in an attempt to elude police.

Naperville police Sgt. Gregg Bell said Monday he was not certain when Durbin might be extradited to Illinois.

Durbin appears to be enjoying his notoriety. Anderson said Durbin asked his arresting officer if there would be media coverage of his capture
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