Man Steals Police Cruiser, Drives It To South OC: Police

LOS ANGELES, CA — A man was arrested after a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car was stolen near BMO Stadium and driven to south Orange County on Wednesday night, authorities said.

The marked Crown Victoria was taken shortly before 8 p.m. near 38th and Figueroa streets while officers were working a special event at the stadium, according to the LAPD. LAFC was playing Real Salt Lake at the time.

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No weapons were inside the cruiser, police said.

The stolen patrol car was later seen traveling on the 110 Freeway, ABC 7 reported.

At about 9:30 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers received a report of a suspicious police vehicle traveling south on the 5 Freeway near La Paz Road in Laguna Hills, NBC Los Angeles reported.

CHP officers found the cruiser with its rear amber lights flashing and stopped it near Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano, according to the station.

The driver surrendered without incident and was taken into custody, KABC radio reported. The suspect and the recovered patrol car were turned over to the LAPD.

Police were investigating how the cruiser was stolen and what charges the suspect could face.

City News Service contributed to this report.