Officer Recovers His Own Stolen Pickup

A California Highway Patrol officer whose customized pickup truck was stolen from his home more than a year ago recovered his cherished vehicle after spotting it on a freeway, authorities said Friday.

Officer Raul Munoz claimed his truck Thursday after he heard the familiar rumble of its engine and chased it down in the westbound lanes of the Artesia Freeway, CHP Officer Lyle Whitten said.

Munoz was clearing the scene of an accident on the freeway near the San Gabriel River Freeway in Cerritos about 1:30 p.m. when he heard the truck’s engine and looked up to see a 1973 Chevrolet pickup just like his whizzing by, Whitten said. He caught up with the driver after a two-mile chase, and noticed details he had installed before it was stolen.

The driver had purchased the truck from someone else and was not arrested.