VALPARAISO | When Hobart resident Steven Richards took his 12-year-old truck last week to the Valpo Auto Body shop, he simply wanted to have his brakes repaired.

What he got instead was news his truck was stolen, followed by an unexpected telephone call, some negotiating and the eventual arrest of a man trying to hold the vehicle hostage until Richards paid up.

Chat Retic, 43, of 2153 Rhode Island, in Gary, faces a felony count of receiving stolen property.

The red Ford Ranger pickup truck in question, which was left with the keys inside by mistake, was stolen around Wednesday or Thursday from the auto body shop, 309 Evans Ave., police said.

After filling out a report, Richards said he received a call early Sunday morning from someone telling him if he ever wanted to see the truck again, he would need to call back by 8 a.m. Richards called back and the man claimed Richards owed him money from a previous night and it would cost $250 to get his truck back.

When Richards explained the truck was stolen a few days earlier from the repair shop, the unidentified caller became angry and accused Richards of lying and playing games, police said.

The men agreed to meet in Merrillville.

Police set up a surveillance team and located the truck, but it was empty.

A police officer posing as Richards' friend called the man and said he was hesitant to meet. This infuriated the man, who said they would never see the vehicle again.

Retic was picked up with the help of Merrillville police after returning to the truck and attempting to drive away.