Suspect In Northern San Diego Burglary Spree Nabbed

SAN DIEGO, CA — A suspect in a spate of burglaries in 4S Ranch and University City was arrested Thursday after crashing a car on a Torrey Highlands-area freeway offramp.

The first two break-ins were reported at about 3:30 a.m., according to the San Diego Police Department. Officers responding to the crimes in the 16400 block of Paseo Del Sur obtained a description of the perpetrator and were able to identify a suspect vehicle via an automated-license-plate-recognition system.

"The officers shared the information citywide," SDPD Capt. Richard Aguilar said.

The third burglary, which took place in the 3800 block of Governor Drive, was reported at about 4:30 a.m., according to police. While investigating the break-in, officers got another ALPR notification regarding the car believed to have been involved in the earlier two crimes, Aguilar said.

Later in the morning, officers on patrol in the Carmel Valley area spotted the vehicle entering state Route 56 from Interstate 5 and began tailing it, according to police.

After traveling to the east for about five miles, the suspect exited the freeway at Camino Del Sur, where he lost control of the car, sending it spinning out of control off the roadway and into a patch of ice plant.

Officers then took the driver, later identified as 33-year-old Robert Abduljabar Coleman, into custody without incident. During the arrest, officers found a sledgehammer the suspect allegedly was carrying during the crimes and clothing he was believed to have been wearing while committing them, Aguilar said.

— City News Service