Man Suspected In South Bay Thefts Arrested After Chase, Crash

REDONDO BEACH, CA — A man suspected of stealing a wallet from one vehicle and a purse from another in the parking lot of a Sam's Club store in Torrance is behind bars following his arrest at the end of a vehicle chase that ended in a crash.

Joshua Okoro, 24, of Los Angeles, is facing possible charges of grand theft, evading, hit-and-run and receiving stolen property, Torrance Police Department Sgt. Ronald Harris said.

Okoro is suspected in thefts from vehicles that occurred over the weekend at the Sam's Club at 2601 Skypark Drive, Harris said.

The first theft occurred about 9:45 a.m. Saturday, when a victim's wallet was stolen from her car as she returned a shopping cart, Harris said. The second theft occurred about 10:30 a.m. Sunday, when a woman's purse was stolen from the front seat of her car while she was loading groceries into it, according to the sergeant.

Victims and witnesses to both crimes provided police with descriptions of the suspect and his vehicle, Harris said.

"Upon responding to the theft on Sunday morning, patrol officers immediately located the suspect vehicle," he said. "The suspect failed to initially yield and led pursuing officers on a vehicle chase."

The pursuit ended in Los Angeles when the suspect's vehicle slammed into a parking pole at the New Casa Motel at 7720 Main St., Harris said.

Okoro was not injured in the crash, Harris said.

"During the investigation, officers recovered numerous items of stolen property to include wallets and purses from other victims," he said.

Okoro, who was arrested about 12:20 p.m., was being held in lieu of $75,412 bail, according to sheriff's inmate records.

City News Service