Santa Rosa police received a report at about 1:40 a.m. that the vehicle, a tan Acura, had just been stolen in the 1400 block of Guerneville Road. The reporting party said that the vehicle's engine had been left running, according to police.
Minutes after the initial report, an officer spotted the stolen vehicle near the area of Steele Lane and U.S. Highway 101, police said.
The vehicle pulled into the driveway of a vacant home in the 400 block of Steele Lane, where the driver, who had no association with the home, was taken into custody without incident, police said.
A realistic looking pellet gun was found on the passenger seat of the vehicle, according to police.
The suspect was a parolee with an extensive criminal history, including prior car theft and related crimes, police said.
The suspect was booked into Sonoma County Jail on charges of automobile theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a parole violation, according to police.
