Street Sweeper Swiped

An opportunistic thief snatched an unattended street sweeper from a grocery store parking lot early Saturday, but it didn't take long to track down the stolen machinery, Watsonville police reported.

No arrests have been made.

The theft happened around:48 a.m. Saturday when the street cleaner left his vehicle unattended in the parking lot at La Princesa Market on the 1400 block of Freedom Boulebard. The keys were in the distinctive vehicle and the door was unlocked, police reported.

A man rode up on a bike and jumped into the cab of the street sweeper. He drove off in the vehicle.

Hours later, officers found the street sweeper truck on the 100 block of Packard, Sgt. Saul Gonzalez said. It was returned to company; the thief has not been found.

Police enocouage motorists to not leave keys in their vehicles.