A few minutes later Ventura Police got a call about a Southern California Edison utility truck involved in a collision.
The driver had fled the scene, but about 30 minutes later they arrested 33-year-old David Balzano after a witness identified him as the driver.
Investigators said during the short time between the truck theft and the collision, Balzano ran over three sign poles and hit a water main.
Balzano was booked for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, violation of parole, DUI, hit-and-run and resisting a peace officer.