Sonora, CA…From the Tuolumne Sheriff’s Office….”Tuolumne County, you are our eyes and ears out in the community. We need your help in our search for a car thief. Around 2 o’clock in the morning on Saturday, one of our deputies was driving west on Campo Seco Road in Jamestown when he saw a silver Jeep SUV stopped in the eastbound lane with its headlights on. When the deputy passed the vehicle, he heard the Jeep start and then jump forward before stalling.

When the deputy moved behind the vehicle to assist, the driver got out and took off running. Several deputies searched the area for the man but were unable to find him. The deputies did find a broken wood fence that led to a home on Oakmont Court and a camouflage, flat bill baseball hat on top of a shed.

The steering column of the Jeep and ignition assembly were damaged and discovered on the passenger seat. Deputies contacted the registered owner of the vehicle who confirmed it had been stolen on Friday night from her home on Preston Lane in Jamestown.

If anyone has any information or remembers seeing anything suspicious in the areas of Campo Seco Road or Preston Lane Apartments on that evening, please call us at 209-533-5815.”