A Turlock man was sentenced to three years in state prison for stealing a car that was left idling and unattended.

Thomas Eddie Brummitt, 21, was convicted on Jan. 10 of auto theft and grand theft and is currently on probation for possession of stolen property from April 2008, according to the Stanislaus District Attorney’s Office.

Around 6 a.m. on April 18, 2010, the owner of a 1996 tan Toyota Avalon parked his car in front of the Walgreen’s on Geer Road in Turlock and entered the store to make a quick purchase while leaving his car idling outside. When he left the store, he saw Brummitt driving off in his car. The owner then called police to report it stolen.

At 9:30 a.m. on that same morning, Brummitt was walking through Donnelly Park on Pedras Road in Turlock when he saw a 16-year-old boy sitting on a park bench texting on his Apple iPhone. Brummitt walked over and took the phone from the juvenile and ran to a nearby apartment complex. After the juvenile reported the theft of his phone, an officer went to the apartment complex and located Brummitt in an apartment with the victim’s iPhone. The officer also located the stolen car nearby.