Ted Bundy was caught primarily due to routine police stops and minor traffic violations, despite the severity of his crimes. His initial arrest was in August 1975 by Utah Highway Patrol officer Bob Hayward, who became suspicious after seeing Bundy driving a Volkswagen Beetle with his lights off and fleeing at high speed. Upon searching Bundy's car, the officer found burglary tools such as a ski mask, crowbar, handcuffs, and pantyhose with holes cut in it. Bundy was arrested for possession of burglary tools and evading an officer

. Bundy was also identified by a kidnapping victim, Carol DaRonch, who had escaped from him and later identified him in a police lineup, leading to charges of attempted criminal assault and aggravated kidnapping

. After being convicted and imprisoned, Bundy escaped custody twice. The first escape was in June 1977 when he jumped out of a courthouse library window and fled into the mountains. He was recaptured six days later. The second escape was on December 30, 1977, from a jail in Colorado, after which he committed more murders in Florida

. Bundy was finally caught for the last time on February 15, 1978, in Pensacola, Florida. Officer David Lee stopped Bundy while he was driving a stolen Volkswagen Beetle. Bundy resisted arrest, leading to a physical struggle before the officer subdued him. At the time, Bundy was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list

. In summary, Ted Bundy was caught through a combination of police suspicion during routine traffic stops, victim identification, and law enforcement vigilance following his escapes from custody