So let me get this straight... the cops chased after a guy who dumped the car in a parking lot, and then ran off, stole another car, and somehow came back to his car unattended car, which had been searched, and took it back?! Why was the car not impounded on site? Why was it not being monitored? What are the police actually doing in this town?!?!?

I think a 3rd grader or beginning ESL student would have trouble concluding the suspect circled back to get the original car.

"As officers were looking for the man with a police K-9, a car was reportedly stolen about a HALF-MILE AWAY on the 100 block of Laurel Street, police said."

The suspect did in fact abandon his car in Atherton, steal another car on Laurel Street and was back in his car when sheriff's deputies arrested him in Redwood City, according to Atherton police. Per Atherton Sgt. Chris Vigil: The vehicle was abandoned on private property, and unless needed for evidence (in this case it was not) the vehicle would then be towed by the request of the property owner.