Gas stop leads to auto theft charges for Elgin woman

An 18-year-old from Elgin who admitted to police she stole a car in Rockford was arrested Wednesday after she tried to buy gas for the car with a counterfeit $100 bill, police said.

Brittany J. Jones, 18, of the 0-100 block of South Crystal Street, was charged in court Thursday with unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, police said.

The car, a white 1999 Chrysler Sebring, was reported stolen Wednesday from a 22-year-old woman who lives in Rockford.

Police realized the stolen vehicle was in Elgin when a gas clerk refused a counterfeit bill she offered and copied down the license number as the Chrysler drove away.

A police officer on patrol later spotted the car in the driveway of her apartment building on the 0-100 block of South Crystal Street about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday with Jones standing next to it. The driver's door was open and Jones was standing next to it, police said.

In court Thursday, Jones said she was arrested once before - for lying on the Internet.

She was unable to post a $5,000 bond and was taken to the Kane County jail to await a March 10 court date at the Kane County Judicial Center.