Students Try to Steal Giant Pepper From Chili's Rooftop
Four people were arrested on Sunday after attempting to steal a giant chili pepper from atop a Chili's Grill and Bar in Vermont.
Triggered by an alarm, cops arrived at the Chili's in Bennington, Vt., around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday to find Asher Woodworth, 23, on the roof. He had been removing the bolts that held the red and green chili pepper in place with a hacksaw and a power drill.
Police found 470 feet of extension cord running from a nearby Home Depot, across a highway and up to the roof to power the electric drill. Apparently, the heist's mastermind failed to realize they make cordless drills.
"They really did some damage," Bennington police Sgt. Camillo Grande said. "The bracket that held the pepper in place will need to be replaced." Chili's estimated the cost of the pepper at $8,000, or roughly one dollar for every calorie in a Jalapeño Smokehouse Bacon Big Mouth Burger®.
Woodworth and three accomplices were charged with attempted grand larceny. It was the most exciting thing to happen at the bland Southwestern-inspired restaurant chain since the invention of the Awesome Blossom in 1996.