Salt Lake man solves own crime

A Salt Lake man knew the Honda driving next to him looked familiar, but it wasn't until he made a phone call to his wife that he confirmed its familiarity Friday night.

"He actually saw four kids driving in what he thought was his car," said Salt Lake Police Lt. Scott White. "So he calls his wife and says, 'Honey, run out and check if your car is in the parking lot,' and it's not, so he calls us."

The man followed the four juveniles until police caught up to the stolen car at 1100 W. Brooklyn Avenue, two miles from where it had been taken from the driveway of the man's home near 1700 South and Redwood Road.

The kids "sort of" pulled over, White said. Then they jumped out while the car was still slowly rolling and ran through Jordan Park.

Police arrested all four juveniles three minutes later for allegedly being in possession of a stolen vehicle and placed them in juvenile detention.

"They actually drove to the (man's residence) in another stolen vehicle that they stole earlier today," White said.

Police believe that the juveniles were using a "shaved" key as a sort of all-purpose tool to get into and turn the ignition of several Hondas, White said.

—Jacob Hancock