A car thief led Killeen police on a high speed chase Tuesday morning after she stole one of the police department’s cars.

The suspect, who has not yet been named, finally was apprehended in Copperas Cove after officers there joined in the chase.

The chase began just after 8 a.m. when an officer arrested a suspect and was unloading him at the precinct office at 402 N. 2nd St., in Killeen.

When the officer returned to the place where he had parked his car, it was not there.

The officer reported the theft to communications and dispatchers immediately put other officers on the lookout for the patrol car.

The stolen cruiser was tracked to Copperas Cove and it was stopped with the assistance of Copperas Cove police officers.

Copperas Cove Police officers took the female suspect into custody at 8:11 a.m.

The woman currently is being held in the Copperas Cove City Jail while the case is being reviewed by the Bell County District Attorney’s Office.