Dimitri Storm's Survival Tactics a Mystery

In many ways, fugitive Dimitri Storm is a mystery to local police and sheriff's office personnel.

Storm has been on a crime spree for the last month — stealing cars and license plates, breaking into vehicles and vacation rentals, and at least twice threatening violence.

Not only has law enforcement been unable to catch and arrest Storm, they know very little about how he is surviving in between sightings.

At a press conference on Thursday, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Hart said that Storm's family revealed that he "believes he is a police officer."

That eccentricity is just one of many puzzles.

Hart said the sheriff's office isn't sure how exactly Storm is surviving the crime spree, with no evidence of what he has been eating or how he has obtained food. It's possible he is stealing from stores. According to Hart, he has been spotted at one convenience store over the last 30 days.

Often, the items that have been reported stolen in cars taken by Storm, have been recovered along with the vehicles. Hart said it does not appear Storm is ever selling stolen items to get cash for sustenance. 

Keeping his stolen cars gassed up without much, if any money, hasn't been difficult for Storm. He just steals a new car before his current ride runs out of fuel.

It is also unclear where Storm is spending his nights. Hart said it's possible he is sleeping in the stolen cars on desolate roads in the San Lorenzo Valley. He could also be camping out in the Soquel Hills or Summit area.

Oddly enough, Storm also escaped unscathed after being Tased last month in Sonoma County. According to Hart, one officer then used a Taser on Storm, but he was "unaffected" and was able to escape.

There is a $500 reward being offered to anyone who gives information that leads to the arrest of Storm. Anyone who sees him should call 911 immediately and should not attempt to contact him as he is considered armed and dangerous.