Man Takes NYPD Car On Joyride, Crashes Into Vehicles In The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police in the Bronx were searching Monday for a suspect accused of stealing an NYPD cruiser, going on a joyride, and then crashing into several cars.
As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, the NYPD squad car was back in the 50th Precinct stationhouse parking lot Monday, sporting a damaged front end and a flat tire. It was stolen from the same parking lot early Sunday morning.
Police on Monday were still looking for a man they say drove away with in the squad car. So far, he has gotten away with a crime of convenience.
"I know the keys were in it," said NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill.
Police said an officer who had just finished his 4 p.m. to midnight shift not only left the keys in the patrol car, but also left it running.
"the police officer left it outside the station house in the parking lot. He assumed somebody from the midnight shift was going to take that car," O'Neill said. "That didn't happen."
Instead, the car sat running in the lot for six hours. Just after 6 a.m., the suspect got behind the wheel.
Surveillance video shows the stolen patrol car about two miles away heading down Sedgwick Avenue, and then crashing into several cars.
The suspect is then seen jumping out of the car and taking off.
"When I thought it was a police car I said, 'Oh my God, are they OK?' But then when no cops came out and a guy did I said. 'Oh my God -- did this guy steal a car?!'" said witness Dietra Guerrant.
"It's like only in the movies, but it happened," said Vivian Lopez.
The suspect slammed into Lopez's red SUV. She said the officer who left the keys in the squad car is partially to blame, and the NYPD needs to take action.
"Be more aware or do their job – I don't know, but something," Lopez said.
Police said it is not uncommon for officers to leave keys in the car at shift change, if the officers using it next are outside waiting for it.
O'Neill said the officer who left the squad car running, and the sergeant who failed to account for the vehicle and its keys, are being disciplined.
Police are using facial recognition software in hopes of identifying the suspect on surveillance video.
