Merced Police say this is the person responsible for stealing a police vehicle on Wednesdsy night.

An officer was investigating a theft at the Smart and Final parking lotat around 10:40 p.m.

While the officer was speaking with the reporting party of the call an unidentified suspect got into the officers marked patrol car and sped away. The officer was approximately 40 feet away from the vehicle when the brazen suspect jumped into the vehicle.

Approximately 20 minutes later, officers located the vehicle abandoned in the 500 block of W. 27th Street. There were no firearms in the vehicle at the time of the theft. The vehicle was not damaged, and no property was taken from the vehicle. Officers located surveillance footage of the suspect from the store’s surveillance cameras.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic or Asian male adult, wearing a black hat, black hooded sweatshirt, red shirt, and red shoes.

If anyone recognizes the individual in the photograph we encourage you to contact the Merced Police Department Sergeant Jeff Horn at 209-388-7739 or by email at hornj@cityofmerced.org.