KIRO Radio staff

A 33-year-old robbery suspect stole a Seattle police car after he was arrested Thursday morning.

The man was picked up by cops around 2 a.m. near Wing Luke Elementary school. He was questioned, arrested, hand cuffed and put in the back of the cruiser.

But when the officers stepped away from the car for a minute, he managed to get through the partition and into the front seat. Then he drove off.

The partition is often cracked open for ventilation, Witt said.

"He's obviously a small man to get through there, and handcuffed on top of that," police spokeswoman Renee Witt said

"It's very embarrassing for the officer," Witt said. "We're just lucky the shotgun and none of the other equipment was taken."

A search turned up the car with all it's weapons and equipment intact, but the man wasn't found until after 6 a.m.

Charges have not yet been filed.

Witt said it was not unheard of for a suspect to steal a patrol car from an officer.

"Hopefully, the other officers won't razz him too much because - it happens," Witt said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report