A Knoxville man is in custody after stealing an unlocked and unattended car from a gas station and fleeing from officers on Monday morning.
On Monday at around 7 a.m., it was reported that a victim’s car had been stolen from the parking lot of the Pilot at 2518 N. Broadway by an unknown individual. The victim reported that she left her car unlocked with the key still in the ignition while she went into the store, and the car was gone by the time she came back out of the store.
Just minutes later, a Knoxville Police Department officer spotted the stolen car and attempted to initiate a stop on Dutch Valley Drive near The Hague. The car did not stop and a pursuit was initiated. Following a brief pursuit, the car turned on to Plummer Drive, and the driver exited the vehicle shortly after and fled on foot. Officers continued to chase the driver on foot until they briefly lost sight of him. However, responding officers set up a perimeter and, with assistance from a K-9 unit, the driver was located and taken into custody.
The driver was identified as Luke Johnson, 28 of Knoxville, Tennessee. After continued investigation following the incident, Johnson was charged with motor vehicle theft, evading arrest, and reckless endangerment among other charges.
As a reminder, the KPD strongly encourages motorists to always take their keys and lock their car when leaving it unattended for any amount of time. Motor vehicle thefts are largely crimes of opportunity. An unlocked and unoccupied car is an easy target for would-be thieves. By simply shutting off your engine, taking your keys and locking your car every time you leave it unattended, you can greatly reduce the chance that you will become a victim of car theft.