Police: Man stole truck for ride to court

REDDING, Calif., Dec. 18 (UPI) —

Police in Redding, Calif., say a man accused of stealing a truck told officers he took the vehicle because he needed a ride to court for another car theft case.

Police said John Westberg, 69, called police when he heard his 1989 Ford Ranger start up and saw it being driven away from his home by an apparent thief, the Courthouse News Service reported Wednesday.

Officers pulled the truck over about 20 minutes later and arrested Michael Heller, 21, Redding Police Department Cpl. Chris Smyrnos said.

"Heller admitted to officers that he stole Westberg’s truck because he needed a ride to court for an unrelated stolen vehicle case. Heller was arrested for vehicle theft and possession of a stolen vehicle and was booked at the Shasta County Jail," the police department said in a statement.