Law enforcement officers spent much of Sunday searching an area northeast of Fort Dodge for the driver of a stolen pickup truck.

The initial operation in the area of 170th Street and Samson Avenue began at about 8:30 a.m. and wrapped up at about 3 p.m.

Officers went back at about 6 p.m. in response to a report that the man had been spotted.

According to Webster County Sheriff Jim Stubbs, the officers were looking for a man who was driving a pickup truck that was reported stolen in Iowa County, which is in the southeastern part of the state.

Stubbs said the pickup was involved in a two-vehicle collision Saturday at the intersection of 170th Street and Samson Avenue. No one was injured in the crash.

The driver of the pickup truck ran into a nearby corn field, according to Stubbs.

Deputies returned to that area when a burglary alarm was activated at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday at the National Gypsum Co. quarry along Samson Avenue, south of 170th Street.

Stubbs said there was a possibility that the alarm was set off by the driver of the stolen pickup. He said deputies ”set up in that area” and began a search.

The search concluded around 3 p.m.

Then at about 6 p.m., someone called 911 to report seeing the man in the 2700 block of 170th Street. Officers combed the area for more than two hours.

Stubbs urged residents in the area to lock their vehicles just in case the driver is still around and looking for a vehicle to flee in.

”I would urge people in that area not to leave keys in vehicles,” he said.

A description of the man wasn’t released.

Webster County sheriff’s deputies, Fort Dodge police and the Iowa State Patrol were involved in the searches.