Car thieves come in all shapes, sizes, and, in this case, even species. It's bad enough that human beings resort to stealing each other's vehicles, but when Mother Nature gets involved, everyone here at Toyota South is tempted to say that maybe we should all just start riding bikes... Nah, we're sure this isolated incident won't soon become the norm. Plus, then we'd be out of a job selling some of the more reliable, safe, and overall valued cars on the road today.

The incident we're talking about involves a 2001 Toyota Prius and a black bear. The McCarthy family woke up one night at their Lake Tahoe cabin home to discover the curious bear wreaking havoc on their beloved hybrid. They quickly called the sheriff's department, but soon found that the car was completely missing!

While we can't confirm that the bear took the car for a joy ride, it does seem to be the prime suspect. The current theory is that the bear knocked the gear shift into neutral, then managed to release the emergency brake... smarter than the average bear, anyone? The McCarthy's Prius was quickly found about 80 feet away, knocked into a neighbor's deck. The Prius, however, was unoccupied, meaning that the bear is not only guilty of grand theft auto, but also leaving the scene of an accident... tisk tisk.

If you want to see why so many drivers, and bears for that matter, can't get enough of the Toyota Prius, then feel free to come take one for a test drive here at 961 Four Mile Rd Richmond, KY 40475. You can arrange a test drive simply by contacting us online or by phone at (866) 386-0911, and we promise not to let any bears take any of the other new Toyota models that we keep in stock for a spin either.

"The direction-selector gear shift lever had been ripped completely out of the dashboard," Mrs. McCarthy said. "Every recognizable piece of the interior" had been ripped out--although it was undamaged on the outside."¹

Perhaps future Prius models should come with an anti-bear warning device or something. For now, however, you can research many of the other features and benefits of driving models like the Toyota Tundra or Toyota Corolla, simply by checking out our online inventory and showroom pages. Once there, you'll find a wide range of info on specific models, as well as how to best finance your next ride, and how you can keep it running like with the help of our dedicated parts and service departments.

Source: ¹http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1065914_hippie-alert-mother-nature-wants-to-drive-your-prius-hybrid-too