Burglary suspect arrested after accident during chase in Orange County

Four burglary suspects were arrested after they crashed their car during a chase and fled from police in Fountain Valley.

The gang of thieves is accused of breaking into a home near the 16,000 block of Galaxy Drive in Westminster on Thursday when police spotted their vehicle in the street.

Officers attempted to stop the suspects near the 405 Freeway and Beach Boulevard, but they refused to stop and continued to speed away.

While driving on country roads, the suspects crashed at a busy intersection near Bushard Street and Heil Avenue in Fountain Valley. The collision resulted in severe damage to several vehicles.

A cell phone video shows four suspects immediately abandoning the totaled car and fleeing from the police on the street.

An officer was running closely behind a fleeing suspect as he jumped over a brick wall.

The police officer pursuing the suspect also happened to be a former wide receiver for the University of Missouri football team.

“He’s incredible,” said Cameron Knauerhaze, Westminster’s deputy police chief. “He stays fit and has a reputation as someone you don’t want to run away from.”

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

• Burglary
• Possession of burglary tools
• Conspiracy to commit a crime
• Possession of stolen property
• Fleeing from crime

During the arrest, a pistol and items believed to have been stolen from the house in Westminster were also seized.

Police said the suspects, wearing construction worker vests, were trying to disguise themselves to deceive potential victims.

“We’ve investigated some burglaries where they’re getting a little more brazen and actually trying to blend in better with the community because they know we’re undercover,” Knauerhaze explained. “They know the community knows, so they’ll disguise themselves as city workers, construction workers, pizza delivery people, DoorDash or other ruses to gain entry to someone’s home and blend in with the neighborhood.”
The four male suspects sustained minor injuries during the chase and were taken to local hospitals before being taken into custody.

Police say the burglars may be an international gang of thieves responsible for several home break-ins in the area. Investigators are currently combing through evidence to find other possible victims.

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

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