Fleeing suspect steals Cherry Hill police car

Cherry Hill police say a burglary suspect fleeing from pursuing officers stole a patrol car early Sunday and later crashed it.

The incident began around 3:50 a.m., when police responded to a reported burglary at a Best Buy store, said Lt. William Kushina, a police spokesman. Authorities learned three people had used a stolen car to smash the store's garage doors open and were loading televisions into a stolen van when police arrived.

One suspect then fled in the car, while the other two drove off in the van in another direction. Police pursued both vehicles.

A short time later, the driver of the car bailed out and ran off with officers in pursuit. The suspect soon found an unattended patrol car and drove off in it, Kushina said.

The crashed cruiser was later found on fire at Broadway and Ferry Avenue in Camden, but the suspect had fled and remained at large early Sunday night.

Meanwhile, officers pursued the stolen van through several towns before stopping it in Evesham Township. The two people in the van then fled on foot.

An Evesham police dog later tracked down a female suspect and she was arrested, but the other suspect eluded capture and remained at large early Sunday night. Kushina disclosed no further information about the woman, including her identity or what charges she might face.

Kushina said the department would try to determine the "facts and circumstances" that led to the police car's theft.