Update (7:30 p.m. Thursday) The stolen truck has been found by police in Denver, the victim tells Denver7.
DENVER — Cesar Salazar remains hopeful his stolen truck will turn up again after he caught someone driving it around Denver just hours after it was stolen.
He parked his truck in his apartment parking lot Sunday night. When he came outside the next morning, it wasn't there.
Just a few hours later, he said he believes he saw his 2002 GMC Sierra being driven around town by someone else. Salazar said the license plate was changed from Colorado to Texas, but he still recognized it because of the LED lights in the front of the car and custom wheels.
He began to follow it and called police.
"I was just trying to catch him," Salazar said. "I was hoping they would stop. Just leave the truck there and run. At least that's what I was hoping they would do, but he kept going and going."
Salazar was following the stolen vehicle in his wife's car while he called Denver police. They told him to stop following the truck for his own safety, but Salazar didn't, fearing he'd lose his truck forever.
Eventually, Salazar hung up the phone and started recording the chase. That's when he captured a passenger in the truck appearing to jump out, as they make a sharp turn. Salazar said his initial reaction was to get out and confront the man. He chose not to, fearing for his safety.
"I'm like, 'Hey, if I get out, I'm either going to get stabbed or something.' So, I go after the truck," he said.
But Salazar lost his truck — again.
It wasn't just a means of transportation that was taken from him — it was his livelihood. Dozens of tools were in the truck, which the concrete finisher needs to provide for his family.
Denver police couldn't say who the passenger was because it's an open investigation. They said no arrests have been made.