Woman fights off would-be car thief

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CAMERON PARK, Calif., Aug. 9 (UPI) -- A California woman stopped a man from stealing her car by dragging the alleged thief out of her vehicle, police said.

Tania Nichols and her two daughters, ages 8 and 10, were at a car wash in Cameron Park, Calif., around 9:30 a.m. Monday when the incident happened, The Sacramento Bee reported.

When the three were getting change from a coin machine, a man, later identified as Daniel Craig Wright, 42, allegedly tried to steal their car, El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies said.

Nichols ran to the car and fought with Wright and ended up yanking him out of the vehicle, deputies said.

Wright fled on foot as Nichols called police and reported the attempted car theft and ensuing fight, deputies said.

Deputies caught up with Wright and arrested him on charges of attempted carjacking, as well as assaulting a police dog for "violently assault" a sheriff's K9, and resisting arrest for fighting a deputy who tried to handcuff him.