CANOGA PARK, CA — Police in the San Fernando Valley arrested a suspected getaway driver Wednesday after a break-in at a shoe store and a subsequent chase.

Authorities believe the gang, most of whom escaped, was responsible for at least two break-ins Wednesday morning in Canoga Park and Woodland Hills.

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were called to the 7200 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Canoga Park around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday to respond to a burglary at a shoe store.

When they arrived, they saw a white van parked in front of the store.

“The occupants of the vehicle did not comply with officers’ commands and fled the scene in the van,” the LAPD said in a written statement. “Officers initiated a chase that lasted less than a minute before two suspects were observed running from the vehicle in an alley behind 7200 Owensmouth Avenue.”

One of the suspects escaped, but police arrested the driver, later identified as 36-year-old Terry Sutton, and took him into custody on suspicion of commercial burglary, according to the LAPD.

Police set up a cordon to search for the other suspect.

“After reviewing the store’s surveillance video, it was determined that four suspects were involved in the burglary and all four were in the van when they fled the scene,” LAPS said. “Air support and patrol responded and assisted with surveillance of the premises, but the additional suspects were not located. During the on-site investigation, it was determined that the same suspects had also burglarized another nearby location prior to breaking into the shoe store.”

The first break-in occurred in the 6400 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Surveillance footage showed the same van parked outside, according to police.

All stolen items in the van were returned to the business owners.

Recently, several shoe stores and a number of other businesses in the San Fernando Valley were robbed. The police increased their patrols and the city administration announced a rigorous response.

A week ago, burglars broke into a luxury shoe store on Ventura Boulevard in Encino and led police on a 100 mph chase. In the end, the burglars were able to escape.

The break-in occurred at the Equvalence shoe store on Ventura Boulevard, known for its sneakers and clothing. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were called to the scene to respond to a burglary report at approximately 3 a.m. at 108007 Ventura Boulevard. They encountered a gang of masked thieves attempting to flee, leaving a trail of money and broken glass behind them.

Police pursued the suspects, at times reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour before the suspects escaped. A police helicopter pursued one of the vehicles to the Ventura (101) Freeway, and the California Highway Patrol joined the pursuit, but called off the pursuit when speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour.

This is the third time the gangs have targeted Equivalence, according to Eyewitness News. The store was robbed last month, and in December, thieves stole about $150,000 worth of merchandise in a one-day crime spree, ABC7 reported.

The San Fernando Valley, and Encino in particular, have been grappling with a surge in brazen break-ins over the past month. Several businesses have reported repeated robberies, and one homeowner with a paintball gun has turned vigilantism to protect his neighborhood.
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