The Crescent City Police Department reported Friday, February 19th, that an alert citizen prevented a vehicle theft from the cinema parking lot.
According to the press release, the citizen noticed the suspect, pick up a set of keys off the ground and then enter a parked vehicle. The citizen thought the actions of Reynolds appeared suspicious and called dispatch to report the incident.
Crescent City Police’s Sgt. Lopez quickly responded to the scene and upon arrival, located the suspect, identified as 23 year old Nathaniel Reynolds, still inside the vehicle. The suspect then got out of the vehicle, locked it using the key fob, and dropped the keys back on the ground before trying to walk away.
Sgt. Lopez was able to locate the actual owner of the vehicle, a retired veteran, who was unaware that he had accidentally dropped his keys on the ground earlier.
Reynolds was then arrested for attempting to steal the vehicle. Reynolds was transported to the Del Norte Sheriff’s Office jail and booked.
A special thank you goes out to the alert citizen for going the extra step of reporting this incident and allowing the prevention this crime.