Five arrested in a string of car burglaries

FOX 5 San Diego Staff
12:13 PM PDT, April 18, 2010

Chula Vista, Calif. - The arrests of five people in two separate incidents might slow down an increase in car burglaries in the east side of Chula Vista, a police lieutenant said today.

Three people were arrested as the result of a pursuit Saturday night, and two others were caught red-handed early today, Chula Vista police Lt. Fritz Reber said.

Around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, someone called police to say he was following a car carrying three men who tried to break into his vehicle, Reber said.

An officer spotted the suspects' car getting onto the 805 Freeway from Main Street, confirmed the vehicle had been stolen earlier in the day in National City, and followed them until they took the exit to Bonita Road, Reber said.

He said one person got out of the car and was taken into custody.

The driver sped away but struck a woman's vehicle in the 3800 block of Bonita Road, slightly injuring her, according to the lieutenant.

Reber said the second occupant then got out of the vehicle and was arrested.

The driver drove off but crashed again, suffering minor injuries, he said.

"Inside the car they found stolen property from several recent burglaries,'' Reber said.

The suspects, an adult whose name was not released and two juveniles, were arrested on suspicion of vehicle burglary and possession of stolen property, Reber said. Additionally, the driver was booked for hit-and-run and felony evasion, he said.

And at 2:37 a.m. today, an officer spotted two young men in a vehicle in the 1900 block of Marquis Court in Eastlake and believed they were breaking in, The two ran off, but the officer caught them, and both admitted to thefts, Reber said.

A discarded purse was discovered in the area, and items from the purse were found in the pocket of one of the men, he said.

Also, residents said they saw the two checking car doors, he said.

Reber said Glenn Spears and Zachary White, both 18-year-old Eastlake residents, were booked on suspicion of vehicle burglary, possession of stolen property and conspiracy.

There has been a rash of car burglaries since the beginning of the year, he said.

"We hope (the arrests) puts a dent in our on-going problem,'' Reber said.

link: http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-car-burglaries,0,2766502,print.story
Copyright © 2010, KSWB-TV