Resident tries to drive suspect to police

File this one under, “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again.” Actually, Costa Mesa police would prefer you don’t try this at home.

A Costa Mesa resident managed to steer John Borges, 18, of Costa Mesa, into his car to drive him to the police station after Borges allegedly tried to burglarize his home, but while on the way there, Borges bailed out of the car, police said.

Police found Borges Monday afternoon hiding behind a home in the 200 block of Amherst Road, authorities said.

The homeowner told police that earlier that morning he was in his backyard gardening when he heard noises inside his home, Lt. Clay Epperson said.

When he went inside to check it out, he found Borges disoriented and wearing a security guard uniform, police said.

The man walked Borges over to his garage and offered to give him a ride, Epperson said.

Borges swiped all of the keys hanging on the wall and stuffed them into the back of his pants, Epperson added.

Still, somehow the man convinced Borges to get in the car but when Borges realized they were heading toward the police station, he jumped from the car and started running, Epperson said.

Borges later told police he ran back to his home in the 200 block of Loyola Road and changed out of his security guard uniform and into a T-shirt and shorts, Epperson said.

He then ran toward Amherst looking for unlocked cars, Epperson added.

Borges claimed to have been in that area earlier burglarizing unlocked vehicles after he found some keys on the ground, Epperson said.

Witnesses in those neighborhoods identified Borges as a man they saw trying to open their garage doors at about that time, police said.

“We would strongly discourage anyone bringing a suspect in here,” Epperson said. “We come to you and grab the bad guys, not the other way around.”

Borges is being held at Costa Mesa City Jail on $50,000 bail.

Police believe he may have been under the influence of narcotics at the time of the alleged burglaries, Epperson said.