A witness in a car theft took matters into his own hands Friday afternoon.

According to Salisbury Police, Donald Phillippe Jr. and his wife pulled up to the Pop Shoppe on the corner of West Innes Street and Statesville Boulevard to get a few items from the gas station.

They told police that they left the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition and the car running. Rhett Mauldin told police he was in his car in the Pop Shoppe’s parking lot when he saw two young men get into Phillippe’s car and start to drive away. According to police spokeswoman Capt. Shelia Lingle, Mauldin told police he attempted to block the car in, but they squeezed out.

According to the report, Phillipe came out of the gas station and Mauldin told him to get into his truck, and they’d follow. Mauldin and Phillipe followed the car down West Innes Street until it turned onto Ackert Avenue. According to the report, Mauldin attempted to box the car in again, but the driver of the stolen vehicle rammed Mauldin’s truck. According to the report, the two young men jumped out and ran.

When police arrived on the scene they reported that Mauldin and Phillipe were holding one of the men down. Police identified the suspects as Sedrick Jaquann Quinton Johnson, 19, and Myles Kadeem Branham, 18. Johnson and Branham were charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and were taken to the Rowan County Detention Center where each was placed under a $25,000 secured bond.

15-year-old charged

A delivery man found himself without a way to get home when his car was stolen Friday.

Daniel Robertson, a perfume salesman from High Point, was making a delivery on Cedar Street at about 8:45 Friday evening.

Robertson reported to police that he left the keys in his gold colored Nissan Maxima and left the vehicle running while he went inside to complete the sale. When he came out a few minutes later, the car was gone. Robertson reported the theft to the Salisbury Police Department.

At 12:25 a.m. police received a call that the car had been seen on South Long Street near Broad Street. When they arrived at the area, there was no sign of the vehicle.

Officers received another call that the car was seen near the City Park area. Officers nearby attempted a traffic stop, but the driver kept going. According to the report, the driver turned onto Jackson Street and then onto Rowan Avenue, where the car collided with a Dodge Dart parked on the street.

According to the report, the suspect jumped out of the Maxima and ran. Officers asked the suspect to stop, and when he did not comply, officers said they would shock him with a Taser. The suspect, who proved to be a 15-year-old juvenile, was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, felonious larceny, resist, delay or obstructing a public officer and possession of stolen goods.