John Tang Pedersen said his 1988 Toyota Camry was stolen from his UTC home on Wednesday.
On Friday morning, Tang Pedersen received a call from police.
"They said 'are you sure you're not driving the car?' And I said, 'No I'm in bed',” he said.
Tang-Pedersen said he was watching NBC 7 San Diego and found out that his car had crashed in Mira Mesa.
The suspect, who had led police and CHP on a high speed chase that lasted for almost an hour on several freeways and surface streets, crashed into a pole and fled on foot, according to police.
La Mesa Police started chasing the stolen 1988 Toyota Camry just before 6 a.m., according to investigators.
The suspect travelled westbound on Interstate-8 from La Mesa to the end of the freeway, made a right onto SeaWorld Drive and got off on Balboa Ave., heading eastbound.
Local
Once on surface streets, a passenger jumped from the vehicle and took off running near Crisp Way in Clairemont Mesa at about 6.10 a.m.
San Diego police took over the chase until the car reached Interstate-5 and then California Highway Patrol took over.
The vehicle exited on Carmel Valley Rd. and San Diego police once again took over the chase.
The driver was switching his lights on and off and driving erratically, so police called off the chase as they were concerned for public safety.
NBC San Diego’s helicopter was overhead throughout the pursuit until police asked the helicopter to back off for unknown reasons.
The suspect crashed into a pole about 6.53 a.m. on Karma Drive and Ice Skate Place in Mira Mesa, according to police.
Hage Elementary School in Mira Mesa was put on lock down for about 20 minutes, but the lock down has been lifted, according to police.
It’s the second time the car has been stolen. Tang-Pedersen said it was taken in the late 1990's.
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