Would-be Reno carjacker can't drive a stick shift, returns victim's keys

Jaclyn O'Malley • August 4, 2009

Kent Howard Boedicker was booked Monday afternoon into the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery, and remained in lieu of $10,000 bail.

A 57-year-old registered nurse called police at about noon on Monday to report that a man tried to carjack her four-door Hyundai, and ran off after he was unable to drive the stick shift. She had been parked in Borders Books parking lot in the 4900 block of South Virginia Street when he approached her with a gun. Officers found the weapon, which turned out to be a BB gun.

The woman was rolling her window down when she saw Boedicker, whom she said appeared pale, ill and had cuts on his body. Police said the woman asked him if he needed help. He then opened her car door and demanded she give him the keys. She said ‘no” and closed the door.

Again, police said Boedicker opened the door, demanding keys. The woman noticed he had a gun, and complied.

Soon after he got inside the car, he got out and gave the woman her keys.

“I don’t need these anymore,” the woman recalled him saying.

Reno police found Boedicker in the Save-Mart parking lot. He was identified by the woman and arrested. Police believe that Boedicker does not know how to drive a stick, which caused him to abandon his efforts.