Keys Inside, But Ignition Would Not Start For Unsuccessful Car Thief

A 22-year-old local man was arrested for breaking and entering a vehicle late Saturday night in the area of Burch Street at Dorothy Road in Arlington.

The reporting party stated that he is the vehicle’s registered owner but the vehicle is used primarily by his son. His son was home from college for the weekend and he left the vehicle parked on the street while he went out with his friends for the night.

The reporting party’s wife stated she was in their upstairs apartment when she heard what sounded like the ignition to her son’s vehicle attempt to be started. She looked out the window and saw an unknown person inside the vehicle attempting to start it.

She ran outside and saw the man who was in her son’s car, and she watched as he fled on foot southbound on Dorothy Rd (toward Belmont) and then took a right turn onto Little John Road.

She described the suspect to officers.

Her husband told officers that it appeared his son left the keys in passenger compartment in the vehicle. Officers were able to track down the suspect a short time later in the area. The wife was able to identify the suspect, “I am 100% sure of it.”

Timothy J. Hardy, 22, of Arlington, was subsequently arrested, and charged with breaking and entering a vehicle. Nothing appeared to be missing from the vehicle.

Editor’s note: Arlington Police arrest log information.