Toronto firefighters put out the flames of a burning stolen car that was being pursued by police when it slammed into a bus, knocking it off the road, Wednesday, October 14, 2009. The driver bolted from the vehicle and jumped a fence into the local police station. (Sun Media/Dave Thomas)

TORONTO -- An alleged car thief who apparently has a terrible sense of direction may just be one of the dumbest criminals ever.

After leading Toronto Police on a short but explosive chase in the city's northwest end yesterday, he foolishly ran right into the long arms of the law.

Officers spotted a black, four-door sedan in the Jane St. and Finch Ave. area around 4 p.m., Sgt. Janine Hancock, of 31 Division, said yesterday.

They checked the car out, determined it was stolen and then attempted to stop it. But the driver sped off.

Moments later, the westbound car clipped another vehicle at Norfinch Dr., then smashed into a TTC bus and soon burst into flames.

"But the driver bailed out and ran," Hancock said.

She was one of the many officers who were in the middle of a shift change at the nearby police station when a call came over the radio that the suspected car thief was heading their way.

More than a dozen officers ran outside just in time to see the man jumping a fence from a neighbouring business.

"He looked a little shocked to see us," Hancock said of the accused. "I don't think he realized that 31 Division was on the other side of that fence."

The suspect, who is believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, essentially ran right into the arms of awaiting officers and was immediately fitted with a pair of steel bracelets, she said.

"It wasn't a good day for him," Hancock said with a chuckle of the ensuing takedown and arrest. "There wasn't much of a struggle."

A section of Finch had to be shut down as firefighters doused the burning car, but nobody was injured in the crash.

The accused man, whose name was not immediately released, was still being processed late yesterday.

However, Hancock said, he will likely face numerous charges.

CHRIS.DOUCETTE@SUNMEDIA.CA