A Suspected Car Thief's Thirst For Coffee Lands Him In Jail In Seattle

A stop for coffee didn't end well for a suspected car thief in Seattle, according to KOMO.

The incident unfolded Saturday afternoon (March 13) when a Metro Transit sergeant pulled into a coffee shop in the 600 block of South Michigan Street, according to the King County's Sheriff's Office. Deputies said the sergeant spotted a poorly-parked van blocking the drive-thru entrance.

The sergeant reportedly noticed a man in the driver's seat duck down as a woman passed by, as if trying to hide. Suspicious, the sergeant ran the license plate and learned the van had been stolen out of SeaTac, deputies said.

"The sergeant called for backup as the woman returned with their coffee and the van began preparing to leave," KOMO reported. "However, the sergeant pulled up behind activating her siren lights and held them as other deputies arrived."

Authorities said they also found several pieces of stolen mail, packages and clothing in the vehicle, suggesting that the suspect was impersonating an Amazon driver.

The man was booked into the King County Jail on investigation of car theft. Reporters said the van was returned to its owner.

"Even car thieves need coffee," deputies wrote on Facebook. "For one man, this just might be his last cup of good joe for a while."

Photo: King County Sheriff's Office