Bend police: Old Mill car thief caught in the act

An owner returned to a car parked in Bend’s Old Mill District early Thursday to find someone trying to steal it. He called 911 as the suspect ran away through nearby businesses, but police found him and learned a second car also was tampered with and items stolen, police said.

Police responded just before 2 a.m. to the 300 block of Scalehouse Court on a report of a car clout in progress, Lt. Clint Burleigh said. The victim reported the suspect was spotted in the driver seat, trying to steal the car, but ran away.

Police arrived and found two vehicles were tampered with, Burleigh said. Both had significant damage to the ignition column and one had numerous electronic items stolen.

During an area check, police spotted the suspect, Quinn Snider, 29, of Redmond, running through nearby businesses and he was taken into custody without incident.

All of the stolen items were recovered. Snider was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on charges of second-degree theft and two counts each of attempted unauthorized use of a vehicle, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree criminal mischief. His bail totaled $35,000.