EPPD: Man stole car left running and unattended by owner

An El Paso man is accused of stealing a vehicle left running with the keys in the ignition, then assaulting the owner of the vehicle, El Paso Police said Monday.

Manuel Cardona, 31, is charged with robbery. The auto theft happened at 8:59 a.m. on December 7, 2018 on the 8200 block of Troy.

Police said the owner of a Honda Accord left his car unattended with the keys in the ignition, the engine running and the door open.

When the car owner returned, he saw Cardona enter the car and drive away. Police said the victim of the car theft and a witness neighbor followed Cardona to another location where the victim was assaulted after demanding the car, police said.

Police later arrested Cardona and booked him into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $20,000 bond.

“Not only is leaving cars running with keys in the ignition a tempting and easy target for thieves, it is also illegal. A person can be cited for doing so,” El Paso Police said in a news release.