Virginia Beach Man Steals his Own Car, Police Say

Plymouth Township Police arrested a man earlier this month after he allegedly broke into a tow yard and drove through a security fence ... with his own car. 

Anthony Melito, 44, of the 1900 block of Morgan Mill Way, Virginia Beach, Va., was arrested July 5 at about 11 p.m. following a pedestrian stop at the intersection of Belvoir and Valley roads shortly after he broke into Bowes Tow Yard and drove through the security fence with a silver Grand Am, police said; the car had been brought to the tow yard at about 9:45 p.m. following a crash in Whitemarsh in which the vehicle had struck two parked cars. 

As police were responding to the burglary call at the tow yard in the 1800 block of Gallagher Road, a man called 911 and reported seeing a reckless driver near the 700 block of Belvoir Road. According to police, the witness said he saw a silver Pontiac with heavy front end damage drive onto his neighbor’s yard. The vehicle failed to negotiate a turn as it was driving north on Belvoir Road, struck a curb at the intersection of Belvoir Road and Park Drive, crossed several lawns and came to a stop after striking a small stone wall near the front door of a home in the 700 block of Belvoir Road, police said.

Melito then exited the vehicle, flagged down another motorist and asked him for a ride. When the other motorist refused to give Melito a ride, Melito started walking up Belvoir Road toward Arch Road, wearing shorts and no shirt and carrying a suitcase, police said.

According to police, Melito appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol; he said he had not been drinking, but said he was taking medication for ADHD. He was given a blood test at Mercy Suburban Hospital. 

Melito was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, DUI and related charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 28.

According to the report, while at the hospital, Melito said the police officer with him was “Much nicer than the police officers who arrested [me] on [July 4] for marijuana possession.”