San Diego Car Thief Crashes SUV During Police Chase

A man was in the hospital Wednesday after stealing an SUV and crashing it in the Tierrasanta neighborhood. The car thief jumped into the Toyota 4Runner at 4th Avenue and F Street after the owner left it running with the keys in it. He reportedly drove on the sidewalk downtown while fleeing the scene, police said. Police tracked the vehicle using the owner’s cellphone. When they caught up to the driver, a man in his 30s, he slammed into a fence post in Tierrasanta. The suspect is believed to be tied to a hit and run reported in the area, according to San Diego police.