Truck stolen with owner sleeping in back

DENVER, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A Denver man who has been living in his pickup truck camper said he was shocked when he woke up to find someone stealing the vehicle with him still inside.

Terry Bannick, 59, said he was sleeping in bed of his 1993 Ford F-150 when he woke up at about 1:30 a.m. MST Saturday to the sound of the truck's door opening and closing, The Denver Post reported Wednesday.

Bannick said a man started the truck, using keys Bannick had left in the ignition, and drove the vehicle around for about 2 1/2 hours.

"I tried talking to him, but he wouldn't even look at me" through the sliding rear-view window, Bannick said. "I said, 'Why are you taking my truck? Where are you going?'"

Bannick said he called police on his cellphone but he was unable to give a good description of his location due to his restricted views of the road from the camper.

"He could hear me talking to the police," Bannick said. "I don't know what was wrong with him."

Police finally caught up with the truck just as it was running out of gas. Darwin Brown, 42, was arrested and charged with auto theft and marijuana possession. He was ordered held without bail.