Notre Dame Wallet-Snatchers Hit Fla. Senator

Martinez joins ranks of Fightin' Irish game-day car break-in victims

By Lev Weinstein, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 7, 2008 6:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Florida Sen. Mel Martinez became another statistic in the correlation between theft and college football while watching his nephew punt for Notre Dame this weekend, reports the Southbend Tribune. The senator had his wallet nabbed from his rental car, a common fate for fans with out-of-state plates. Police were able to return Martinez’s wallet by halftime, minus $180 in cash but still containing his Senate credentials.

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U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez speaks to members of the Tiger Bay Club, a bipartisan group of business people and politicians in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Notre Dame running back Armando Allen heads into the end zone during second quarter action against Stanford in an NCAA football game Saturday Oct. 4, 2008 in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

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"When there's a game and you have an extra 10,000 cars parked in the city, there are going to be more problems. - Capt. Phil Trent, South Bend police spokesman

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Notre Dame Wallet-Snatchers Hit Fla. Senator