Cash Goes Flying As Burglars Lead Police On High-Speed SFV Chase

ENCINO, CA—Angelenos may have woken up to a trail of cash on Ventura Boulevard Wednesday after burglars broke into a high-end shoe store and led police on a 100-mph chase.

In the end, the burglars got away, marking the latest in a string of residential and commercial burglaries plaguing the San Fernando Valley.

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.

The suspects climbed into three newer model cars — two white Camaros and a grey Corvette, ABC7 reported.

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.

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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.

Residents can register for the meeting and submit questions for city leaders and LAPD officials here ahead of the meeting.

"No one should have to live in fear in their own home, and my office is committed to ensuring the safety of all our residents," added Raman.

City News Service contributed to this report.