Myrtle Beach motel guest chases and stops moped thief

A Myrtle Beach motel guest chased down a man who was attempting to steal a moped from the parking lot, according to a police report.

Police said they were called about 8 p.m. on Thursday to a motel at 403 Sixth Ave. S. where witnesses and the moped’s owner provided statements.

The motel guest told police he saw a suspicious-looking man sitting at a picnic table on motel property, and then later saw the man running from the parking lot while trying to kick start a moped.

The motel guest said he yelled for the man to stop, but the man began to run faster. The witness chased the suspect across Kings Highway into a restaurant parking lot where the suspect finally dropped the moped, according to a police report.

Another witness told police she saw the motel guest chasing the man through the parking lot.

The suspect was last seen running in the direction of Seventh Avenue and Oak Street, police said.

The moped was returned to its owner.

Police were still searching for the suspect as of 9 a.m. Friday.

This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 9:08 AM with the headline "Myrtle Beach motel guest chases and stops moped thief ."