A five-person retail theft team in San Bernardino County was apprehended after stealing more than $6,000 in products, prompting police into a high-speed chase followed by a foot pursuit that ended on the grounds of a nearby high school, according to CCTV footage.
According to an Upland Police Department social media post, the incident occurred on January 27 at the Colonies Crossroads shopping mall located at 1931 N. Campus Avenue in Upland.
Store video cameras caught the five suspects, four adults and one youngster, as they entered the store wearing hoodies and face covers, took armfuls of items, and departed without paying.
Police swiftly spotted the suspects’ vehicle and discovered during the pursuit that it had purportedly been stolen in a Downey robbery and carjacking.
Authorities said that during the pursuit, the suspects rammed two automobiles, one of which had children, before entering the eastbound 210 Freeway, where the California Highway Patrol joined the chase while the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department tracked the suspects from above.
On the 15 Freeway, footage recorded by SBSD’s helicopter shows the suspects driving over to the shoulder, bailing out, and attempting to flee on foot.
One of the crew was promptly apprehended after failing to cross a chainlink fence.
The other four suspects crossed several additional fences before making their way onto the grounds of Etiwanda High School, where they were apprehended with the assistance of school security and Rancho Cucamonga Police Department personnel.
The suspects’ vehicle contained around $6,500 worth of items.
“All five suspects were booked for a number of felonies, including commercial burglary, conspiracy, felony evading, felony child endangerment, resisting arrest and assault with a deadly weapon,” police reported.
Authorities said they will most certainly face many charges in Los Angeles County in connection with the robbery and carjacking.
