EL CERRITO — The attempted escape of an electric wheelchair-bound supermarket shoplifting suspect last week was short-circuited when he crashed into a car in a parking lot, police said Tuesday.
The man was not hurt and was given a citation rather than being taken to jail, said police. The $329 worth of sausages and bacon he is suspected of stealing was recovered.
The attempted theft happened about 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Safeway Store, 11450 San Pablo Ave.
Police said the 51-year-old Richmond man, a chronic thief at the store, loaded his electric wheelchair full of various meat products and tried to ride away.
But as he got into the store parking lot, he broadsided a car that was driving through the lot, causing him to be ejected onto the pavement along with the sausages and bacon that he had concealed in his clothing, police said.
He was not injured, police said.
Police said store staff helped him him back into the wheelchair and recovered their property.
He was placed under citizen’s arrest for shoplifting by store employees and was cited by police and released.