San Jose man pretended to sleep in stolen car: police

(KRON) — A San Jose man pretended to be sleeping when police officers found him inside a stolen car that was parked in a Hollister neighborhood, according to police.

The thief had used a large wrench to start the car’s ignition, photographs released by the Hollister Police Department show.

According to HPD, a “vigilant resident” on Verona Place saw a person break into a car and drive it away just before 3 a.m. Sunday. The resident followed the stolen car from a safe distance and called police.

“Officers Provost and Officer Baugher arrived within minutes and located the suspect inside the vehicle, where he appeared to be feigning sleep. Officers contacted the suspect and quickly determined the vehicle had been recently stolen. Bags containing burglary tools were also located inside the car,” HPD wrote.

Police identified the suspect as 24-year-old Joseph Moreno of San Jose. Officers said they also recovered a second car that was allegedly stolen by Moreno in Sunnyvale.

Moreno was booked into the San Benito County Jail for vehicle theft, carrying a concealed dagger, possession of burglary tools, and possession of drug paraphernalia.