Tire thief made his capture easy, cops say

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TEMECULA, Calif., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A California man allegedly stole tires using a van showing his name and number, authorities say.

Rich Richardson found more than a dozen tires missing from his Best for Less Tire Pros in Temecula Jan. 17, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.

Jeffrey Yancey of Rancho Cucamonga was arrested after surveillance cameras caught him and an accomplice putting the tires into a van labeled "Jeff Tires" with his cell phone number on it, court records state.

Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin McDonald said investigators arrested Yancey at his home after calling the number and pretending to buy the tires.

Yancey, who has several prior convictions, has pleaded not guilty to burglary and property fraud.

Richardson said he qualified as one of the "world's dumbest criminals."