Stolen car returned after woman dragged by thief

A woman dragged across a parking lot as she tried to stop a crook from stealing her car shares with FOX 35 her terrifying ordeal. 

The car was tracked down by authorities.  Police say occupants of the stolen car told them they had purchased it off of Craigslist, so the search for the thief continues. 

Brandy Johnson says Melbourne Police returned her stolen 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier over the weekend, and although it's in rough shape, the single mother is thrilled to have her only mode of transportation returned.

"I'm just glad my car is back!" she told us.

Eight days ago, surveillance video captured an older white man stealing Johnson's car in front of the Chevron on Babcock street in Melbourne. In an attempt to stop him, Johnson ran out and stuck her arm through the window.

"I figured if he hit the gas pump, it was over at that point, that's what I was hoping."

The driver got away, and Johnson suffered minor physical injuries. Melbourne police found the car this past weekend during a traffic stop.  No arrests were made, and police returned her car, but Johnson says the entire ordeal was mentally traumatizing.

"I couldn't close my eyes for three or four days without seeing this man's face and without reliving the emotions," she said.  "It was torture."

But most shocking of all, is what Johnson says she found in the car when she got it back.

"I found some paraphernalia in here.  I found a rolled joint in the ash try. I found some marijuana in the seat."