Divergence Among Thieves: All for One, One for Himself

Whatever happened to honor among thieves? All for one, one for all -- that sort of thing. Certainly it wasn’t in evidence in the aftermath of a Redondo Beach burglary, when three suspects were being chased by police on the San Diego Freeway.

As the suspects neared an offramp, the driver slowed the car, then leaped out and ran off into the night, the Beach Reporter newspaper said, leaving his stunned passengers without a pilot at the helm.

Luckily, officers “blocked the path of the car [and] stopped it from striking other cars on the freeway” before arresting the two stranded men, the newspaper said. Stolen property was found in the car.

Oh, yes. The faithless driver was also found by police soon afterward.

Gimme a cup o’ spuds: Mil Harris of San Luis Obispo spotted a coffee drink that even Starbucks hasn’t heard of (see accompanying).

Untarnished Tomb Department: An ad for a vault with very little mileage on it caught the eye of Wendy Mollett of Studio City (see accompanying).

Unclear on the concept? On a ferry off Port Angeles, Wash., David Fulton of Sierra Madre noticed a warning that should also have included the words “except in case of emergency,” just so it wouldn’t be taken literally (see accompanying).

Something for everyone: You’ve heard of all the latest television gimmicks. But what about a set for people who have such contempt for the quality of programming that they feel like spitting? Jackie Vasquez was among several readers who chanced upon that development (see accompanying).

Solar problem: San Diego magazine relates that when mayoral candidate Donna Frye was asked to explain that city’s woes, she responded: “Sometimes I say it’s sun poisoning.” Incidentally, the quote was picked up by Britain’s Guardian, whose readers would probably appreciate a bit of sun poisoning.

A mayor on the hot seat? When fire personnel urged La Verne City Council members to check their residential smoke alarms, writes columnist David Allen of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Mayor Jon Blickenstaff said he was way ahead of them.

Explained the mayor: “My wife tested ours last week with some burning bacon.”

miscelLAny: Jolene Collins of Tujunga saw this sign at All Saints Lutheran Church in Sun Valley:

All Saints

Turn Right

(Sinners Too).

Steve Harvey can be reached at [800] LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012, and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.