7/29/2010 - Car owner spots thief and locks him into vehicle

A 15-year-old boy was arrested for vehicle burglary after the owner spotted him in the car and triggered the remote lock, trapping the boy inside. The victim, an undercover police officer for another agency, took the thief into custody until Redlands Police arrived to arrest him.

The victim, a police officer for the San Manuel Indian Reservation was on a separate plain clothes assignment near the intersection of Orange Street and Stuart Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, when he spotted the teen get into the passenger side of his rented 2010 Jeep Cherokee and begin to ransack the vehicle.

While the teen was in the vehicle, the officer used his remote to lock the doors of the vehicle, trapping the thief. He then took the teen into custody and waited for Redlands Police to arrive to make the arrest.

The Redlands teen was booked on suspicion of vehicle theft and attempted auto theft with an additional gang enhancement. He was transported to Juvenile Hall.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681. Anonymous tips can be provided by texting 274637 using the keyword “REDTIP.”