VALDOSTA — A 17-year-old has been charged with taking a motor vehicle after a K-9 found him hiding under a house.

About 2:15 a.m. Monday, Valdosta police officers responded to the area of the 1000 block of North Toombs Street, after a resident reported her vehicle stolen. The woman said she had left her vehicle running while she ran inside a store, which was located in the 1400 block of North Troup Street.

While she was briefly inside, someone got into the driver’s seat and drove away. The vehicle struck a couple of other cars and mailboxes, police said.

The victim followed the vehicle until she reached the area of the 1000 block of North Toombs Street. A deputy with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office saw the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver ran from the vehicle.

A K9 Unit from the Valdosta Police Department responded to the area and helped to search the area. The K9 tracked for several blocks, before alerting to an area underneath a residence, police said. Officers gave multiple verbal commands and a 17-year-old male crawled out from under the house.

The man was taken into custody without further incident and was taken to Lowndes County Jail.

He faces several charges:

— Theft by taking-motor vehicle-felony.

— Hit and run-misdemeanor.

— Disregard Traffic Control device-misdemeanor.

— Driving while not licensed.

If anyone has any further information on this case or any other cases, please contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www.valdostacity.com/police-department.