Harrison County, Texas Sheriff Tom McCool reported to Harrison County Commissioners Monday morning that his office lost a patrol car early Sunday.
"It was a rather unbelievable event," McCool told the court.
He said a man had tried to steal a vehicle from a site across the street from Harrison County's Road and Bridge Department.
When that failed, he climbed the fence and entered a security area at the county barn on Five Notch Road.
The man searched until he located a set of keys hidden in the patrol car and drove the vehicle through what the sheriff described as "heavy-duty gates," which are always secured with chains and locks, he added.
Chief Deputy Bobby Gibbons said the man drove the car to his residence and hid it in a grove of pines.
McCool said it was "a very well used squad car" — a spare vehicle —and damage was so extensive that it probably was not worth repairing.
Arrested was Dustin Cruse, 19, of 4275 U.S. Highway 43 South. He was booked into county jail at 10 p.m. Sunday night at which time Cruse was found to be under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and the prescription drug, Xanax, McCool said.
The sheriff noted Cruse "was the same individual who had been (illegally) getting fuel at the road and bridge department. It was a very ridiculous and criminal act," the sheriff said, adding his office will abandon the policy of leaving keys in vehicles at the site.