Since you asked

How did Brent know the car parked across the street was stolen?
(a) he has spidey senses. you get those when you graduate from police school.
(b) it was a car we have never seen before.
(c) it was parked in a no parking zone.
(d) upon observant inspection, the driver's side lock was popped out slightly.
and that, folks, is all it takes, when you are a seasoned cop such as my husband (he is the senior officer on duty in his district sometimes these days...didn't that happen fast??).