COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Two men are in custody after allegedly stealing a UPS truck in Cobb County.
The incident happened in the 3100 block of Burnt Hickory Road NW around 10:30 p.m., according to Cobb police.
When officers arrived, they found the driver uninjured - and not long after that, the truck itself.
Officers were able to find the two suspects in a parking lot nearby a CVS, 23-year-old Leonardo King of Rex, Ga and 23-year-old Anthony Dwayne Singleton of Stockbridge, Ga.
"They were pretty easy to spot; they had been running through the woods and they had a little bit of mud all over their shoes and pant legs," Cobb County Police Sgt. Wayne Delk said.
King has been charged with hijacking a motor vehicle and felon in possession of a firearm. Singleton has been charged with hijacking a motor vehicle as well.
Sgt. Delk said he was glad it didn't end in a much worse way.
"We're lucky in this one that he wasn't injured," he said. "We know that delivery drivers are trying to get their deliveries made, they're rushing and they may not be paying attention to their surroundings as we would like them to."
UPS released the following statement:
"UPS drivers receive training on how to be aware of their surroundings and take appropriate action if they believe they are being followed or may be in danger. UPS reinforces this training at morning meetings before drivers begin their routes. These meetings may include “Be On The Lookouts” for suspicious activities.
UPS's first priority is the safety of our employees, who receive more than 10 million combined hours of safety training each year. A significant portion of this training is dedicated not only to safe driving but also to personal safety. Our drivers are taught to constantly monitor their surroundings for suspicious activity and actions, and always be as alert and vigilant as possible. Additionally, we have many physical safety tools and methods that our drivers utilize and follow when in their vehicles.
UPS has its own security measures and works with law enforcement. Our security methods are kept confidential to maintain their effectiveness."
This incident is not the first of its kind in metro Atlanta.
On November 23, a UPS driver was robbed in SW Atlanta at gunpoint and on December 11, a FedEx driver had to jump from her van when a suspect got into the driver's seat and fled.
