Burglary suspects arrested after crashing during Orange County pursuit

Four burglary suspects were arrested after crashing their car during a pursuit and fleeing from officers in Fountain Valley.

The theft crew is accused of burglarizing a home near the 16000 block of Galaxy Drive in Westminster on Thursday when police spotted their vehicle on the street.

Officers tried pulling the suspects over near the 405 Freeway and Beach Boulevard, but they refused to stop and continued speeding away.

While driving on surface streets, the suspects crashed at a busy intersection near Bushard Street and Heil Avenue in Fountain Valley. The collision left multiple vehicles with severe damage.

Cell phone video captured four suspects immediately ditching the totaled car and running away from police on the streets.

One officer sprinted closely behind a fleeing suspect as the man hopped over a brick wall.

The officer who was chasing that suspect also happened to be a former wide receiver for the University of Missouri football team.

“He’s amazing,” said Cameron Knauerhaze, Westminster Police deputy chief. “He stays fit and has quite a reputation of not being the guy to run from.”

The four men were eventually taken into custody on multiple charges including:

• Residential burglary
• Possession of burglary tools
• Conspiracy to commit a crime
• Possession of stolen property
• Felony evading

A handgun and items believed to be stolen from the Westminster home were also recovered during the arrest.

Police said the suspects, who were wearing construction worker vests, were attempting to disguise themselves to fool potential victims.

“We’ve investigated quite a few burglaries where they’re becoming a little bit more brazen and actually trying to blend into the community better because they know that we’re doing undercover operations,” Knauerhaze explained. “They know that the community is aware, so disguising themselves as city workers, construction workers, pizza delivery, DoorDash, any type of ruse they can to get access to somebody’s home and blend into the neighborhood.”
The four male suspects sustained minor injuries during the chase and were transported to local hospitals before they were taken into custody.

Police said the burglary crew may be an international theft group responsible for multiple residential burglaries in the area. Investigators are searching through evidence to locate more possible victims.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective David Ramirez at 714-548-3805.

Anonymous tips can be provided to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227 or online at occrimestoppers.org.