2 Nabbed in Stolen BMW in Cerritos; Driver Escaped, Still At Large

CERRITOS, CA — Two men were arrested after sheriff's deputies found them in a stolen BMW in Cerritos and a third man, the driver of the car, fled on foot and remains at large.

Deputies responded to a call around 9:55 p.m. Monday of a suspicious person walking toward a white BMW parked by the curb in the 12400 block of Miles Street, according to Capt. Joseph Nunez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Cerritos Station.

"A responding patrol unit with an automated license plate recognition (reader) alerted on the BMW as having a stolen license plate affixed to it as it drove onto Miles Street," Nunez said. "The driver of the BMW exited the vehicle as the patrol unit approached and fled on foot. Deputies approached the BMW, discovered two additional suspects inside, and detained them. A search of the area for the fleeing suspect was unsuccessful."

The BMW had been reported stolen out of Baldwin Park, he said.

Inside the car, investigators found "a large quantity of possible stolen property," including "mail, tools, construction equipment, backpacks, garage door openers" and other items, Nunez said.

"The property is believed to be from the cities of Cerritos, Arcadia, Temple, and Baldwin Park," he said.

The two suspects found inside the car were booked on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, stolen property, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, Nunez said.

Their names were not immediately available, nor was a description of the suspect who got away.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation was urged to call sheriff's Sgt. Gilbert Ramirez at (562) 860-0044. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

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