A car theft incident involving a missing firearm was reported to the Chico Police Department Nov. 20.

A female victim said to have been unloading items into the recreation center of Bidwell Jr. High School and left the vehicle unattended at about 3 p.m., according to a press release. When the victim returned to the vehicle items were missing including a registered handgun.

A witness suspected of a white male on a bike with a bike trailer near the victims vehicle at the time. The victim reported the descriptions to CPD.

Police and the victim began to search nearby areas for the possible suspect.

The victim noticed a man matching the descriptions by Dutch Bros on Cohasset Road and called the Chico dispatch.

Officers identified the possible suspect as homeless man from Chico, Lucas East, 24. During the detention search, police found a loaded handgun in his possession matching the description of the stolen firearm.

The suspected thief was taken to Butte County Jail on a $30,000 bail after being charged of grand theft from a vehicle and possession of stolen property.

Luke Dennison can be reached at [email protected] or @OrionNews_Luke on Twitter.