ONLY ON ABC7NEWS.COM: San Francisco's alleged prolific Zipcar thief speaks out

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ByVic Lee KGO logo
Thursday, May 28, 2015
EXCLUSIVE: Alleged Zipcar thief speaks out
Prosecutors in San Francisco say Nicole Dipo is a prolific Zipcar thief. However, in an exclusive interview with ABC7 News, she says she's only stolen a few of them.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (KGO) -- Who's responsible for the wave of Zipcar thefts in San Francisco? Prosecutors say Nicole Dipo is. But she says she's only stolen some of them. Now accused of being a prolific car thief, she spoke exclusively with ABC7 News on Wednesday from her jail cell.

According to court documents, the CHP officer who arrested Dipo said she admitted stealing 30 Zipcars. Prosecutors believe she's stolen even more. They say Zipcar thefts have dropped off since she's been in jail. Here's her side of the story.

When asked how many Zipcars she's taken part in stealing, Dipo said, "Seven."

That's all Dipo will admit to. Authorities, however, believe she made off with many more.

Between March and the middle of April, 76 Zipcars were stolen in San Francisco. Since her arrest April 12, prosecutors say only three Zipcars have been stolen in the city.

"The other ones I'm not really, not going to plead guilty to because I'm not guilty," she said. "Know what I'm saying?"

The 28-year-old claims she's not part of a ring of Zipcar thieves. She says the real ring leader is still out there.

"I looked like I was the ringleader because I'm the one that taught that individual and that individual taught several other people," she said.

Dipo says she can steal a Zipcar as quickly as 30 seconds. She uses a slim jim to get in and then manipulates the wires from another device that overrides the ignition system.

Dipo says she's never stolen any other type of car. So why Zipcars? She says it gave her a sort of rush.

"It was a high," she said. "You know what I mean? Like once you get the car you're just like oh my God, you know what I mean?

Dipo told ABC7 News that the arrest has been a life changer.

Dipo: "I've been able to rethink about what I wanted to do."

Lee: "You're not going to steal anymore cars?"

Dipo: "No. I'm really done, you know?"

Dipo goes back to court next week. She's charged with stealing seven Zipcars. At her arraignment last month she pleaded not guilty.