Suspected Thief Runs After Finding Detective in Idling Car

Haltom City police say a detective sitting in an idling car in his driveway surprised a suspected car thief Tuesday morning, leading to a brief police chase.

Haltom City Police Department officials said the detective was sitting in his personal vehicle while it warmed up in the 5700 block of River Ridge Lane at about 5:15 a.m. when two people in a black Ford Mustang approached.

"He was warming up the vehicle prior to leaving for work," Haltom City police spokesman Joe Hackfield said in a statement.

One man walked up to the car, opened the door and then ran away when he saw the detective, according to police. The other man, later identified as 28-year-old Cody Allen, who stayed in the Mustang drove away.

The detective followed the Mustang until a Haltom patrol vehicle joined the pursuit, police said. When the Allen saw the patrol vehicle, he led police on a six-mile chase that ended when he crashed into a business near the intersection of North Sylvania Avenue and Kimbo Road.

Police said they arrested Allen and charged him with attempted theft and evading arrest and took him to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. The detective was not injured.

The man who opened the vehicle door is still at large, according to police.

Puffing

Haltom City police said they think the suspects were in the neighborhood looking for exaust from cars people were warming before their morning commutes.

"They're opportunist, thieves are," Beshirs said.

"Puffing" is illegal on public property in Texas. Puffing is a term given to the exhaust put out by an unattended car idling in a driveway or parking space.

"Each year we see an increase in auto thefts due to unattended vehicles that are left running," Hackfield said.

Leaving the car running in a private driveway is not illegal, but the act makes drivers a target for car thieves.

"Because people don't have an automatic starter on their vehicle, they go out, start their car, go back inside, get their coffee," Beshirs said. "They come back out and their vehicle is gone."