Thief poses as prospect to steal car

A 24-year-old Nevada man used Cubs prospect Tyler Colvin's name to buy a truck in Utah on Tuesday and absconded without paying, according to a report in The Salt Lake Tribune.

Matthew T. Van Meter allegedly presented documents identifying himself as Colvin and signed the outfielder's name to contractual papers at a car dealership in West Valley City on Tuesday. He was given keys to a new Dodge pickup truck valued at $50,000, and, after agreeing to pay the following day, drove away from the lot.

Colvin, who helped the Southern League's Tennessee Smokies to a North Division title and played six games with Chicago in 2009, has no apparent connection to Van Meter. It's unclear why Van Meter picked the Cubs prospect, or whether he considered trying to pass himself off as a member of the nearby Salt Lake Bees.

Colvin has never played for a team in the area, and he grew up in Georgia and attended Clemson University in South Carolina.

Van Meter, who reportedly has an outstanding theft warrant in Tacoma, Wash., is being held in Salt Lake County jail rather than making a $20,000 bail payment, the Tribune reported.