We're generally not in the business of educating our readers on the best ways to commit crimes. Having said that, we might be in the business of telling you all about what not to do if you plan on successful commission of illegal activity.
Rule number one, don't do it. But Rule 1a. is that if you're going to do it, don't leave behind identifying evidence, like your ID.
Or your license plate … in the wreckage of a car that you hit in a traffic accident … which you then fled the scene of.
That sort of thing makes you incredibly easy to identify - which is exactly what happened to the hit and run driver who left their plate behind after hitting TikTok user Caleb Mangruem's car.
The college student initially posted about his car being hit on April 3rd.
In that first video, Caleb is pulled over to the side of a slick road on a rainy day. He explains that his car was just hit by someone who fled the scene of the accident.
The rear side of his car shows gouges, a lifted panel, denting, and possible damage to the rear drivers-side wheel and tire.
When reviewing his car and the scene, Caleb found the license plate that was torn off the car that hit his.
Determined to get justice, Caleb called the police and waited at the scene as required by law.
He ended up waiting over two hours.
When police did eventually show up, they took a report. Although he asked to keep the plate, police insisted they needed it to enter it into evidence.
It would be another week and a half before Caleb got the names and insurance info, but he did, in fact, get it.
So he gave viewers an update.
Before long, Caleb was able to give another update.
The accident had been rough on his original ride, and left him without transportation. Putting on his detective hat and staying at the scene with that license plate paid off, though.
Guess who's mobile again thanks to a settlement?
TikTok kind of loves this take on "street justice."
@calebmangruem/TikTok
@calebmangruem/TikTok
@calebmangruem/TikTok
@calebmangruem/TikTok
@calebmangruem/TikTok
No word on whether the hit and run driver will be charged or if drugs, alcohol, or medical incident played any role in the accident.