Police investigated two vehicle thefts at businesses on West Third Street, west of I-69, Saturday, according to Bloomington Police Department Captain Ryan Pedigo.
The first vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of Tire Barn sometime Saturday. An employee at the business told police he’d parked his black 2000 Honda Prelude near a dumpster when he was running late for work around 7:30 a.m. Co-workers told police the vehicle was still parked there around 3 p.m.
The man reported his vehicle missing around 5:35 p.m. He told police the windows don’t roll up, and it would be easy for someone to reach inside the vehicle, and he couldn’t remember if he took the key out of the ignition.
Around 7:07 p.m. a Bloomington Police officer on patrol noticed a suspicious vehicle matching the description. A 23-year-old unhoused woman was seen exiting the vehicle at Switchyard Park, and she was later placed under arrest for auto theft (level 6 felony), and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle (B misdemeanor.)
The vehicle was returned to its owner.
Then around 9:53 p.m. a black 2007 Toyota RAV was stolen at the Speedway gas station at 3939 West Third Street.
When police arrived, a woman was standing outside the business crying. She told police she had just finished working and went inside the store to get something to drink. She left her keys in the ignition, and the vehicle running, and it was stolen.
The suspect left heading eastbound in the vehicle with the headlights turned off.
A witness at the Speedway told police they noticed a man who appeared to be homeless about 50 years of age with short gray hair and wearing a green shirt, who was pacing the parking lot for about 30 minutes and looking at vehicles. They were going inside to warn the clerk, but then saw the man run toward the Toyota, jump into it, and drive off.
The vehicle had not been recovered by noon Monday.
