Thief Who Stole Bronx NYPD Car Arrested, Had 21 Prior Arrests: NYPD

BRONX, NY — The man who took a stolen cop car on a joyride over the weekend, only to plow it into a row of parked cars, was arrested on Tuesday.

According to police, Rubin Fernandez, 31, stole the police car from in front of the 50th Precinct on Sunday morning and took off on a ride to Fordham Heights, where he plowed into a handful of parked cars in front of 2300 Sedgwick Avenue. The man then hopped out of the totaled police car, walked away, got into a black Lincoln Town Car and left the scene, according to police.

No one was injured in the accident. The two officers at the precinct, who had left the car unlocked and with the keys in the ignition, will reportedly be punished.

Fernandez has been charged with third-degree grand larceny, first-degree reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Police said he was identified from the video of him leaving the scene, and was well-known to police, as he had 21 prior arrests.

Fernandez lives at an apartment building on West 92nd Street.

Photo/Video Credit: NYPD