Suspected Car Thief Caught Near I-80 Truck Scales

A Fairfield resident had his car stolen after he left it running in his driveway to warm it up on Monday morning, police said.

Shortly before 7 a.m. a resident of Dove Way called police to report that his vehicle was missing.

A short time later, Fairfield police Officer Jimmie Williams spotted the stolen car traveling west on Interstate Highway 80 near the California Highway Patrol scales, according to police.

The driver pulled over in a parking lot off of Red Top Road and exited the vehicle, but refused to follow officers' commands and appeared to be about to flee, according to police.

A CHP K-9 unit was at the scene and the dog apprehended the suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Tiekie Robinson, of Fairfield.

Inside the car, police found a laptop that had been stolen during a home burglary on Sunday. Robinson is on parole for burglary, police said.

He was booked into county jail on suspicion of grand theft auto, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest and parole violation.

Fairfield police are reminding residents to not leave running vehicles unattended, and say that leaving an empty car running is both a violation of the state vehicle code and an open invitation to car theft.

-- Bay City News Service