A car theft suspect was apprehended in a Ceres shopping center a short time after he allegedly stole a car in Turlock.

The arrest was made behind the Save Mart store on Whitmore Avenue after 10:33 p.m.

Ceres Police Department spokesman Sgt. Greg Yotsuya said that the owner of the car and his roommate were at their home in Turlock when they heard the vehicle start and saw it being driven away. They quickly got into the roommate’s vehicle and followed the stolen vehicle to Ceres and called 9-1-1.

The stolen car pulled into the Save Mart parking lot where suspect Alan Nix, 31, of Turlock, got out and walked into the store. The victim and roommate followed Nix into the store where they confronted him. Nix ran to the back of the store and went out a back door.

Ceres officers found Nix hiding in the rear parking area of Save Mart. He was arrested and booked for grand theft auto and possession of stolen property.