LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Two men were in custody today in connection with a “knock-knock” burglary in the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles and authorities believe both are likely connected to numerous recent such burglaries across Los Angeles County.
Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Major Crimes Bureau and Burglary-Robbery Task Force spotted three suspects in a gray Lexus RX350L luxury SUV with paper plates driving slowly through neighborhoods in Hancock Park, Lafayette Square and the Mid-Wilshire areas, according to Deputy Marvin Crowder of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.
Detectives located the Lexus in the 1000 block of Keniston Avenue and watched two suspects walk out of a home carrying property, then get into the Lexus and drive away, Crowder said.
Deputies and detectives, along with Los Angeles Police Department officers, attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle stopped quickly in a shopping center and two suspects exited the Lexus and ditched a bag in nearby bushes, Crowder said.
The bag contained cash, foreign currency, jewelry and credit cards and was confirmed to have been stolen from the residence the suspects were seen exiting, Crowder said.
The driver, identified as Toby Brazier, 41, and a second suspect, Corey White, 30, both of Los Angeles, were captured immediately by deputies. The third suspect was able to flee and escape a containment area set up by police, Crowder said.
White is a documented gang member from South Los Angeles and Brazier is believed to be an associate of a South Los Angeles criminal street gang, Crowder said, adding that both men are third-strike candidates and face 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
The vehicle had “Lexus Santa Monica” paper plates on it when stopped and detectives found “South Bay Lexus” paper plates inside, he said.
Anyone with information about the suspects or who believe they might be a victim of these suspects was asked to call the Sheriff's Burglary Robbery Task Force at (562) 946-7187.