Erratic Driving At Wendy's Leads To Stolen Mini Cooper: Police

TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Suspicious behavior at a Main Street fast food restaurant cracked a strange car theft case, police say.

The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department says that on March 10, around 9:17 a.m., officers responded to Auto Warehouse, located on South Road, after receiving a report of a burglary at the business with a blue 2006 F-350 pickup truck missing.

Around 45 minutes later, the truck was found unoccupied on IBM Road. After the missing pickup was located, the business realized that a brown 2008 Mini Cooper was also missing from Auto Warehouse.

On March 11, around 3:49 p.m., officers reported to the Wendy's on Main Street after receiving a report about a brown Mini Cooper driving erratically. The car was found parked and unoccupied in the Wendy's parking lot. The Mini Cooper was determined to be the same one that was stolen from Auto Warehouse the day before.

When officers found the suspect who matched the description of the Mini Cooper's driver, they attempted to make contact with him, but he fled on foot. After a short pursuit, 27-year-old William Vanderlinden, of Poughkeepsie, was arrested, according to cops.

Vanderlinden was charged with felony third-degree burglary and two counts of felony third-degree grand larceny. He was also found to have four outstanding warrants for his arrest.

Vanderlinden was arraigned in the Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court on March 12, and was released to Probation.

Anyone with information about these incidents or about Vanderlinden is asked to contact the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department Detective Division at 845-485-3670.