SIMI VALLEY : Test Drive Ends in Car Theft and Chase

A 27-year-old man was in jail Sunday after allegedly stealing a gold sports car that he had taken for a test drive, Simi Valley police said.

Jeff Sauer of Los Angeles was arrested Saturday after a high-speed chase and was held on suspicion of stealing a 1983 Datsun 280-ZX from a car dealer in Simi Valley, Sgt. Ron Lompart said.

Sauer was taking a test drive with a salesman when he suddenly said he could no longer drive the vehicle, Lompart said. When the salesman got out to take Sauer’s place in the driver’s seat, Sauer allegedly drove away, Lompart said.

Fifteen minutes later, police saw the car heading east on the Simi Valley Freeway. After police were led on a high-speed chase, the car crashed near Yosemite Avenue, Lompart said. Sauer tried to run away and was captured, he said.