Police quickly found a work pickup and trailer which was stolen early Sunday morning, returning it to the owner and hauling the suspect off to jail.

The theft was reported at 3:53 a.m. in the 700 block of Madrid Court by the owner who said the crime just occurred. The owner was asleep but awakened when he heard his white 2005 GMC Sierra pickup start up and take off with a 2003 Pace enclosed trailer - bearing a Navarro Landscaping sticker - at a high rate of speed.

A short time later Officer Ross Bays located the vehicle headed northbound on Highway 99. Bays requested the Modesto Police assistance with stopping the vehicle since they was getting close to Modesto. Officer Bays received help from StanCATT agents to conduct a high-risk stop on the vehicle at 6th and H streets in Modesto. Officers arrested Jesus Ruelas Jr., 26, of Ceres. STANCATT took custody of Ruelas and took over the investigation. Ruelas was ultimately arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Jail for felony auto theft.

The truck sustained minimal damage during the theft and was returned back to the victim.