A vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of a Mobile retirement community after its owner left it running while stepping inside, according to Mobile Police.
The incident occurred Wednesday morning at University Oaks, a retirement community on University Boulevard in Mobile. The victim told officers she pulled into the parking lot and went inside the building, leaving her vehicle running. A man she did not know then got into the vehicle and drove away.
A short time later, the victim’s husband spotted the stolen vehicle in a parking lot off Government Boulevard and alerted police. When officers arrived, they located the suspect at the scene.
The suspect was identified as 27-year-old Zaquan Packer. He was arrested in connection with the theft. According to Mobile County court records, Packer had no prior arrests on file in the county at the time of the incident.
The case highlights a recurring concern for law enforcement in the Mobile area. Mobile Police have repeatedly cautioned residents against leaving vehicles unlocked or running unattended, as such situations create easy opportunities for theft.