Friends of truck theft victim track down vehicle, suspects

Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:26 PM by Courtney Meznarich
Updated: Sep 6, 2010 8:12 AM

It's an unlikely story, but it happened this morning in Paso Robles.

A young woman's truck was stolen on Friday night, and today, her friends spotted it cruising down the highway. The initial theft happened Friday night near 12th Street and Railroad Avenue, while the truck's owner was inside a downtown Paso Robles bar.

Today, the hunt for the truck concluded at Vine and 2nd Streets, just blocks from the scene of the crime. But if it wasn't for a chance encounter and some quick thinking friends, this story could have ended much differently.

"At least we got it back. We figured it'd be in pieces and on the side of the freeway or in the riverbed or something," said Chelsey Clagg, a friend who helped track down Lauren Albus stolen truck.

The truck's been missing since Friday, when Albus parked it behind Downtown Brew in Paso Robles.

"My keys got taken out of my purse at the bar, and I went to pick it up the next morning and it was gone," said Albus.

The suspect got away with a few articles of clothing, keys and a credit card, but the truck is in one piece. Albus says it's all thanks to a friend who happened to spot the truck on Hwy. 101 in Atascadero.

"At about 11:30 I got a phone call from a friend saying that he passed my best friends truck on the freeway. It's very distinct because of the pink stickers on it," said Clagg.

Albus agreed. "The stickers, which is obvious, if you steal a car you should take the stickers off."

Those stickers would launch Albus's friend's man hunt.

"So I woke up another friend, we hopped in his truck, went to the Chevron where you can see the freeway in Templeton, saw it pass by and got on the freeway," said Clagg.

They called police and followed the truck on and off the freeway, even watching the suspects run red lights to try and get away.

"And then we saw them cut up right here and that's when the cops met up with us and they took off on foot," said Clagg.

Officers surrounded this neighborhood searching for the suspects, but to no success. They're hopeful surveillance video from a nearby gas station and donut shop, where the suspects used Albus's credit card, will turn up some hints. In the meantime she says she's just happy to have her truck back. "it's a small town. You're going to get caught," said a smiling Albus.

Clagg was also pleased with the outcome. "Very happy ending, my best friend got her truck back."

Paso Robles Police Officers say the suspects are two black males. One was last seen wearing a baseball cap, and the other a white shirt.
If you have any information, call police.