An alert Burbank Police Officer saw a suspicious van parked in front of Wooden Camera, 923 W. Olive Avenue Tuesday morning around 3:40 am
When the officer saw several people run from the business to the van, he made a u-turn to get a better look at the van and people, but the van hastily made a turn in the opposite direction drove away without its headlights on.
After trying to pull the van over, the driver failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The van traveled east on Olive Avenue and onto the Olive overpass where the occupants began lobbing property from the van onto the roadway from the side cargo door.
(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)
The van continued onto the northbound Interstate 5 Freeway, where the occupants tossed more property onto the freeway and shoulder before exiting the freeway at Van Nuys Boulevard.
The van struck a concrete center median and eventually came to a stop in the Walgreens parking lot located at Van Nuys Boulevard and Woodman Avenue. Five suspects fled the scene on foot. Two were immediately captured without incident while three suspects remain outstanding at this time.
A search of the van revealed stolen camera equipment and burglary tools which included saws, a pry bar, gloves and masks. The owner and employees of Wooden Camera estimate the value of the stolen equipment to be over $50,000.
(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)
The police department is working with Wooden Camera to itemize the merchandise, but it appears all the stolen equipment has been recovered from the roadway, freeway and van.
(Photo by © Ross A. Benson)
The two arrested suspects have been identified as 38 year-old Angel Cortes (unknown city of residence) and 29 year-old Rolando Alcides Flores of Canoga Park. Cortes was booked for commercial burglary, felony evading and obstructing a police officer. His bail has been set at $75,000.
Flores was booked for commercial burglary and obstructing a police officer. His bail is $20,000. They are both due to appear in the Burbank Branch of the Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday morning.
The outstanding suspects are described as two males and one female.
Photo by © Ross A. Benson)
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