ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A man accused of stealing unlocked vehicles from multiple St. Louis County gas stations over the last few days is now in custody.

Authorities served a warrant to arrest William C. Bishop, 39, on Wednesday, according to Missouri court records.

His arrest comes days after St. Louis police warned of a surge in car thefts at gas stations and car washes around the region.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Bishop stole unlocked vehicles from a Circle K station on Union Road and Mobil station on Big Bend Road. The first vehicle he reportedly stole was later located on a ramp that connects Big Bend Road to Interstate 44.

On Monday, Bishop allegedly stole an Oldsmobile vehicle from a neraby Mobil sation. The owner was able to track the vehicle because her phone was inside of it. A short time later, the owner and her family located the stolen Oldsmobile vehicle at a QuikTrip on Lemay Ferry Road.

The owner and her family located Bishop inside the vehicle and attempted to position their vehicle to block him, according to court documents. However, Bishop fled the scene in the stolen Oldsmobile before police arrived and crashed into three cars, including two that attempted to block him.

A warrant was formally issued for Bishop's arrest on Tuesday. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged him with two counts of stealing a motor vehicle and one count of leaving the scene of an accident in the investigation.

Court documents indicate that Bishop was on parole for similar offenses in Missouri and Illinois prior to his arrest.