March 20, 2007
Man in underwear recovers stolen truck
Man in underwear recovers stolen truck
01:41 PM PDT on Sunday, March 18, 2007
By JOAN OSTERWALDER
The Press-Enterprise
EASTVALE – An early riser in Eastvale today gave chase to his stolen pick-up truck in his underwear and recovered the vehicle after ramming it with his wife’s van.
The 29-year-old floor installer was drinking coffee in his garage on Kite Court shortly after 6 a.m. when he heard an engine start, said California Highway Patrol Officer Kirk Durbin.
“He recognized immediately it was his own,” Durbin said.
The man opened the garage door and saw his Ford Ranger pick-up, which had all his tools in it, drive off, Durbin said. Clad only in his underwear, the man got into his wife’s van and chased after his pick-up at speeds close to 80 mph, he said.
“He said ‘I just couldn’t let my truck go because it’s my livelihood,’” Durbin said.
As he was pursuing his Ford Ranger northbound on Hamner Avenue, he realized a dark blue Chevrolet S-10 with a toolbox in the back bed was following him, he said. The floor installer thought it was an accomplice, he said.
When they approached Bellegrave Avenue, the man rammed his Ford Ranger from behind with the van and pushed it through the intersection until the pick-up hit a concrete barrier, Durbin said.
The Ford Ranger’s passenger ran into a nearby field and the driver got in the Chevy that had followed them, he said.
The Ford Ranger had moderate damage to the front and back, and the van had major damage in the front, Durbin said.
By the time authorities arrived, the man had called his wife on a witness’ cell phone and had her bring him some clothes, he said. Authorities were still searching for the Chevy S-10 and the three suspects, he said.
“He’s got a lot of courage,” Durbin said.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_webchase1.1cd7298.html#