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How far would you take an April Fools' Day joke? Three clever San Bernardino County dudes were arrested after pretending to carjack one of their friends at In-N-Out and leading cops on a manhunt (including a helicopter search).
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept. deputies arrived at the In-N-Out on the 17000 block of Bear Valley Road around 10:58 a.m. on April 1 after responding to a car theft report, according to the Press-Enterprise and Daily Press.
The prank victim had called 911 after he saw his car speed away from the restaurant's parking lot. One of his friends, who was in on the joke, claimed someone had punched him and stolen the car, reported the L.A. Times.
As deputies questioned the group, the three pranksters, who ranged from 18 to 19, kept playing along to the point where officials called out a search with 12 patrol cars and a helicopter. One of the friends finally admitted to the stunt. Meanwhile deputies found the third friend in the "stolen" car.
"They divulged that it was an April Fools' joke," Hesperia Sheriff's Station spokeswoman Susan Rose told the Times.
But that wasn't without some consequences. The three friends, Ashraf Drieas, Drue Mendoza and Luis Garcia, were handcuffed and booked at High Desert Detention Center for delaying or obstructing a peace officer and falsely reporting a crime, according to Daily Press.
The victim though was completely innocent and wasn't arrested. We're sure he's the one who's having the last laugh.
