WESTFIELD – A city man who left his unlocked car running with a shotgun in the back seat escaped serious repercussions Wednesday evening when the vehicle was stolen.
A Mechanic Street resident called police at 6:06 p.m. to report his vehicle had been stolen moments earlier and he had seen what appeared to be a male party driving it away on Meadow Street.
Officer Brendan Irujo was the first officer to respond and reports that the victim said that he had left the engine of his unlocked black 2010 Ford Edge running when he parked it in a neighbor’s driveway while he spoke with his neighbor.
He told the officer that a shotgun and other hunting equipment had been in the back seat of the vehicle.
Patrol officers were notified of the stolen car and in less than an hour, at 6:53 p.m., Officer William Cavanaugh reported locating the abandoned vehicle on East Bartlett Street. The shotgun was still in the car.
Detectives Brian Freeman and Richard Mazza processed the vehicle for evidence. A State Police K-9 unit also assisted in the investigation but the dog was not able to track the steps of the thief leaving the car.
