Another SFV Shoe Store Burglary Leads To Police Chase, 1 Arrest

CANOGA PARK, CA — Police in the San Fernando Valley arrested a suspected get-away driver following a shoe store burglary and pursuit Wednesday.

Authorities believe the crew, most of whom got away, was responsible for at least two early morning burglaries in Canoga Park and Woodland Hills Wednesday.

Los Angeles Police Department officers were called to the 7200 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Canoga Park at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday to respond to a burglary in progress at a shoe store.

When they arrived, they saw a white van parked outside the store.

"The occupants in the vehicle did not comply with officers’ commands and fled the scene in the van," the LAPD announced in a written statement. "Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit, which lasted less than a minute before two suspects were observed running from the vehicle in an alley to the rear of 7200 Owensmouth Avenue."

One of the suspects got away, but police arrested the driver, later identified as Terry Sutton, 36, and took him into custody on suspicion of commercial burglary, according to the LAPD.

Police established a perimeter to search for the other suspect.

"Upon review of surveillance video from the business, it was determined that four suspects were involved in the burglary, and all four were in the van when they fled from the scene," according to the LAPS. "Air Support and patrol resources responded and assisted with the perimeter, but the additional suspects were not located. During the on-scene investigation, it was discovered that the same suspects had also burglarized one additional location nearby before burglarizing the shoe store."

The first burglary happened in the 6400 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Surveillance footage showed the same van parked outside, according to police.

All of the stolen items in the van have been returned to the business owners.

Several shoes stores have been burglarized in the San Fernando Valley along with a string of other businesses lately, prompting police to beef up patrols and city leaders to vow a crackdown.

A week ago, burglars broke into a high-end shoe store on Ventura Boulevard in Encino and led police on a 100-mph chase. In the end, the burglars got away.

The burglary occurred at Equvalence shoe store on Ventura Boulevard, known for sneakers, and clothing . Los Angeles Police Department Officers were called to the scene to respond to a report of a burglary at about 3 a.m. at 108007 Ventura Blvd. They found a crew of masked thieves trying to make a getaway, leaving a trail of money and broken glass behind them.

Police pursued the suspects, at times reaching speeds of over 100 mph, before the suspects got away. A police helicopter traced one of the vehicles to the Ventura (101) Freeway, and the California Highway Patrol got involved in the chase but backed off as speeds topped 100 mph.

According to Eyewitness News, it's the third time crews have targeted Equivalence. The store was burglarized last month, and in December, thieves took about $150,000 worth of merchandise in a one-night crime spree, ABC7 reported.

The San Fernando Valley, and Encino, in particular, has been grappling with a spike in brazen burglaries over the last month. Several businesses reported being hit repeatedly, and one paintball gun-wielding homeowner has gone vigilante to protect his neighborhood.
SEE ALSO:

• 'Sorry! Need Money For Drugs': Thief Leaves Note Amid Burglary Spree
• Cash Goes Flying As Burglars Lead Police On High-Speed SFV Chase
• Attempted Burglary Thwarted By Neighbor's Camera Setup, Paintball Gun: Report

Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman acknowledged the alarm in the community and announced a virtual neighborhood meeting Thursday at 6 p.m.

"Our office is deeply alarmed by the recent cluster of residential break-ins in Encino," she said in a written statement. "It is our top priority at this time to bring together the full capacity of the City to prevent this string of crimes from continuing and to ensure residents are safe."