SOUTH HILL, Wash. — When Eric Smith reviews the footage from his home surveillance cameras, he still can't believe the video that shows him chasing down a would-be car thief in April.
“I don't know how many times I've watched it and seen it or shared it," Smith said. "A lot of people are impressed by it. For me, I’m just like, I don’t know, I was lucky, just real lucky with how it ended.”
Smith moved into his South Hill home less than a year ago to shorten his commute to JBLM, where he serves as an active-duty Washington National Guardsman.
Smith said it's a quiet neighborhood, but when he got a notification that his car door was open on April 3, he sprung into action.
"I chased him all the way out into the middle of the street here, where they were parked,” Smith said. “They park in the middle of the street, that way they're far away from cameras."
Smith said he wanted to hold the thief down to keep him from getting away, but things escalated when the getaway driver sped in his direction. Thinking fast, Smith jumped on the hood before he was run over. He kicked his truck door shut before the getaway driver drove his vehicle into Smith’s truck. That's when he was able to hop off.
"As I was on the hood, I was like, 'ok where am I headed?'” Smith said. “I looked back over my shoulder and I was like, oh no, not my truck! Again, this all happened within a split second."
Vehicle theft is a problem across Pierce County. Crime stats show it increased by around 27% in 2023. Deputies expect that number will keep climbing.
"I had a citizen last week that I spoke with, and their vehicle had been stolen three times,” said Carly Cappetto, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputy. “It's frustrating. I think our citizens are getting very frustrated with this."
The Pierce County Sheriff's Department said it’s working with neighboring jurisdictions to identify and catch the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Smith said he's glad to have walked away from the encounter unscathed, and says the best you can do is stay vigilant.
“You can run it through your head several times, and that's probably the best preparation you can have for yourself,” Smith said. “You never know when it's going to strike, or where it's going to happen."
If you see that your vehicle is being stolen, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department recommends preventative measures, such as buying cameras and locks to monitor and secure your vehicle. Police said to call law enforcement immediately, and don’t directly engage with the thief to avoid putting yourself in danger.