Vigilant tourist helps Reno police prevent car theft

RENO - Reno police are crediting an alert tourist from Minnesota with a law enforcement background for foiling a car theft.

They said the tourist phoned police after chancing upon two suspects as they were trying to steal a Honda sedan Saturday.

Officers were able to catch one suspect, but the second fled on foot.

Police did not identify the tourist, but said he's director of public safety at a university in St. Paul, Minn., who was in Reno for the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators conference.

David Avina was booked into jail on a variety of charges, including attempted grand theft auto and possession of burglary tools.

A search for the second suspect continued.