'Burglary Tourists' Arrested After Air, Ground Pursuit Ends In A Crash: Police

GLENDALE, CA — Two so-called "burglary tourists" were arrested this week after a helicopter and ground pursuit that ended when the suspects crashed into a hillside, according to the Glendale Police Department.

The pursuit began Tuesday at around 3:30 p.m. when officers from the Glendale Burglary Task Force and the L.A. Impact Burglary Task Force responded to the 4300 block of Boston Avenue in the Crescenta Highlands area of Glendale to a residential burglary in progress, police said.

Officers spotted the suspects' vehicle, a Toyota Prius, leaving the residence. Police launched efforts to find the vehicle on the ground and by air, and spotted it on the 2 Freeway. The driver did not stop when police attempted to initiate a traffic stop, police said.

As the suspects fled in the Prius, they began discarding evidence from the car and drove onto the 134 Freeway, where they attempted other exit at Figueroa Street. The driver lost control on the offramp and crashed into a grassy hillside and the two suspects were apprehended, police said.

Police determined the discarded items were stolen from the targeted residences. They also recovered a WiFi signal jammer, which is used by burglars to disrupt home security systems such that they do not alert homeowners or law enforcement about the presence of intruders, police said.

William Guanume, 45, and Bryan Martinez Vargas, 28, both of Colombia, were arrested on burglary charges. The driver is also facing an additional charge of felony evading, police said.

The men are being investigated for involvement in "burglary tourism," where thieves from South America enter the U.S. under the guise of tourism and commit burglaries in affluent neighborhoods, polcie said.

"The Glendale and L.A. Impact Burglary Task Forces will continue to combat this crime tirelessly. The recovery of another signal jammer in the possession of burglary suspects highlights the evolving challenges for law enforcement. Our officers are prepared and equipped to tackle this burglary surge with all our resources," Glendale Police Chief Manny Cid said.