WEST PALM BEACH, FL – A bizarre event unfolded at a Chevron gas station in West Palm Beach last week. Antonina Pevzer, 27, allegedly jumped into a man’s BMW without permission, requesting a lift to Miami. After her request was denied, she reportedly became angry, left, and then returned to the car while the owner was inside the station.
From within the station, the BMW owner spotted Pevzer in his car, appearing to smoke a cigarette. She soon left the vehicle, and when deputies from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) arrived in response to the reported burglary, they detained Pevzer and inspected the man’s car.
During this inspection, deputies discovered a potentially catastrophic situation. The cigarette Pevzer had been seen with was found in a tissue box, actively igniting the tissues. The deputies promptly removed the smoldering hazard from the vehicle.
Pevzer had attempted to escape when she noticed the patrol car but was caught and arrested. She was charged with burglary and the unlawful disposal of a lighted object and was taken to the Palm Beach County Jail.
If the car owner hadn’t seen Pevzer enter his vehicle, the lit cigarette could have caused a fire, leading to significant damage. Pevzer remains in jail as of Tuesday morning with a bond of $2,000. She is due in court early next year.