Liquor Store Car Theft, Recovery In Mission Viejo

MISSION VIEJO, CA — Deputies in Mission Viejo helped a local man recover his vehicle after it was stolen, Patch has learned. The customer entered a local liquor store, made a purchase, then went back inside "for just a minute," Sunday evening. Like many, he left his engine idling for his brief trip inside the store. He exited moments later to find two men driving off with his car.

Orange County Sheriff's Department Mission Viejo police deputies arrived on the scene at just after 7:30 p.m.

"The victim said that he saw two men, one with a pony tail and the other in a black baseball cap, both of indeterminate age of between 30 and 50-years-old, driving off in the vehicle," a department spokesperson said.

Officers searched the area and surrounding streets before finding the car parked at Via Oceana and Via Marajada.

"They weren't sure if the suspects were still inside" at first, but then found the car to be empty. The keys, missing when the officers arrived, were found in a storm drain nearby. The alcohol purchased by the victim was also missing from inside the car.

"The suspects took items from inside the vehicle with them when they fled," according to authorities. "CSI has processed the car for DNA and prints, and it's been returned to the victim."