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Darwin DARWIN at the CARWASH The investment in security cameras pays off for carwash operators (and the readers of <strong>SSCWN</strong>) with these mostly frustrating, sometimes funny -- and always cautionary -- stories of Darwins Caught on Camera. Images of these criminals and/or their vehicles were given to police and the press. Many have been caught thanks to the prowess of security cameras. For anyone who is a fan of Dateline NBC or 20/20, you’re going to love this story. In fact, try and read it out loud using the voice of Dateline reporter Keith Morrison (pictured right): It seems as if a car wash played a role in tracking down a missing woman in Queen Creek, Arizona. According to 12News, 28-year-old Jessica Goodwin was declared missing after she didn’t show up for work on January 11, 2021. According to family members, her bank account showed the last place her credit card was used was at a San Tan Valley car wash around 1 p.m. on the same day she did not show up for work. “The sister of the missing female stopped by and asked if we had video surveillance,” Steve Engen, the car wash manager, told 12News. “Because this evidently was the last place that the missing person’s credit card was used.” A few days later, sheriff’s deputies found her white 2013 Volkswagen Jetta abandoned near the car wash in Queen Creek, Arizona, around 7 p.m. There was no evidence of the missing 28-year-old, but authorities said there was “minor damage” to the vehicle. But the search continued and then Goodwin was found alive the following Sunday on January 18, near the Gila River Indian Community and was airlifted to a local hospital. She is in critical condition, officials said, but is expected to survive. “This is the outcome we have all been hoping and praying for,” Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb said in a statement. “I commend our detectives and our Search and Rescue team for their commitment and attention to detail.” And, I personally, commend the car wash. A few questions were asked while reading this next story. Such as: What is a lollipop lady? And, what is a forecourt? Or an outdoor laundrette? Thankfully, we now have some answers. On January 20 CCTV footage captured a thief stealing, “a lollipop lady’s car from under her nose at a North West petrol station,” in Rochdale, Manchester, England, according to LancsLive.com. So what is a lollipop lady? It is what is referred to here in the states as a crossing guard: Now, that makes sense! Unless of course you are a woman who sells lollipops-- not sure if there is a different name for that. “The offender can be seen getting out of a silver Ford Fiesta after it pulled up next to the Toyota Aygo on the forecourt. He then crouches down and sneaks up to the victim’s car, which was left unlocked with the keys in the ignition,” the story said. Now what is a forecourt? A forecourt, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is a, “flat area in front of a large building.” Jenny Wild and her husband Stewart are shown using the outdoor laundrette when the robbery takes place. What is an outdoor laundrette? Well, it is a washer and dryer on the outside used for washing larger items, as pictured here in the CCTV footage: “When I saw the CCTV of him creeping ‘round I felt sick,” Jenny told the reporter. “What gives them the right to think they can just come and take someone’s car like that? But everything is replaceable, and no one got hurt - that’s the main thing.” That’s the spirit, Jenny, but we still hope the blighter is caught. This also concludes this segment of Let’s Learn British Terms! WINTER 2021 • 59