Car Stolen While Idling in Temecula Driveway

A massive search ensued Wednesday in Murrieta for a suspect believed to have stolen a car while it sat idling in a Temecula home's driveway, police said.

The car was allegedly taken at about 5 a.m. from a home in the southern portion of Temecula, according to Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department called in a description of the car to neighboring law enforcement, Conrad said.

A Murrieta police unit spotted the car and pursued the suspect as he exited, turning east off Interstate 215 onto Clinton Keith Road in Murrieta, Conrad said.

While being chased by the Murrieta officer, the car crashed where Whitewood dead ends on Baxter Road, just east of Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta, Conrad said. The suspect then took off on foot, he said.

Police then launched about a two-and-a-half hour ground search for the suspect, Conrad said, which turned up empty.

Then at about 8 a.m., Conrad said a nearby ranch owner called and said he believed the suspect may have been on his property, where he appeared to be undressing in an effort to change his appearance.

Conrad said police recovered his clothing, but were unable to locate the suspect after another hour-long search that involved a Border Patrol helicopter and numerous units on the ground.

Conrad said the suspect was still outstanding, and they did not believe they had an accurate description of the man. They followed up on several tips from callers who said they might have encountered the suspect in the area that stretches north along Antelope Road near the Mapleton tract to Scott Road at Interstate 215, he said.

The car, a Nissan Pathfinder or similar, was returned to the owner, Conrad said.