A Westport woman was arrested over the weekend for allegedly stealing a car and forging the title.

A Columbus police officer noticed a vehicle parked in an alley on Werner Avenue at about 10:15 a.m. Saturday morning and recognized it from the description of a vehicle stolen earlier in the month. A check of the license plate and the VIN number revealed it was the same vehicle.

34-year-old Melissa R. Hulse was in a nearby home and told police that she had purchased the vehicle. But the title had scribbled handwriting and police believe that Hulse forged a signature on the document. She was arrested on preliminary charges of  auto theft, forgery and an outstanding warrant from Marion County.