Local News in Brief : Costa Mesa : Suspect in Car Burglary Arrested in Mid-Pedal

A man who tried to steal a car radio hopped on his bicycle and pedaled away--but not far enough to elude capture, Costa Mesa police reported Tuesday.

Lt. Dennis Cost said Maria Neuzil, 19, of Mission Viejo spotted a man trying to take the radio from her car in the 1300 block of Logan Street about 1:10 p.m. Tuesday.

The man fled on his bicycle with a few parts from the radio, Cost said, while Neuzil called police.

After giving a report to an officer at the burglary scene, Neuzil got in her car, drove to Fairview Road--and spotted the alleged car burglar on his bicycle, Cost said.

Cost said Neuzil drove back to Logan Street and told the officer, Norm Kutch, who caught up with and arrested the suspect.

Parts of Neuzil’s radio and another car radio were recovered, he added.

The suspect, identified as Jose L. Mendoza, 30, of Santa Ana, is in Costa Mesa Jail on suspicion of vehicle burglary, Cost said. Bail was set at $10,000.