Lowell, MA - City Police Cruiser Stolen While Officer Searched for Intruder - Found 7 Hours Later Damaged

Lowell police cruiser stolen

LOWELL -- A city police cruiser was stolen early yesterday morning and then recovered about seven hours later when someone made off with the car of an officer who was behind a home searching for possible intruder.

Capt. William Taylor said two officers were behind a home at 79 Beaulieu St., about 2:30 a.m., and discovered their car was missing when they finished searching the rear of the residence.

Police contacted federal authorities, because stolen emergency vehicles prompt homeland-security concerns, and eventually located the cruiser on Skyline Drive.

It was abandoned at the entrance of a path leading to the Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest.

"Evidently they were trying to get into the forest," Taylor said. "There's a little pathway there, but it's barricaded with boulders so they couldn't get in."

Taylor said nothing was stolen from the vehicle, which suffered only a few scratches.

Police are processing the car for fingerprints and other evidence in

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