Photo: Getty Images
BURBANK (CNS) - A man who allegedly burglarized a store early Thursday in Burbank was arrested and a second suspect was being sought.
The crime was reported about 1:40 a.m. in the 3400 block of West Magnolia Boulevard, said Burbank police Sgt. Brent Fekety.
Officers went to the location on a report of a burglary in progress, Fekety said.
"The owner of a neighboring establishment called and said they observed, via surveillance video, men breaking into Luxmary Handbags through the rear door," Fekety said in a statement.
The business had been burglarized several times in the last few years, he said.
"When police officers arrived, they saw a white Ford Econoline van backed up to the rear entrance of Luxmary Handbags and noticed the rear door to the business had been pried open, leaving pieces of the door frame on the ground," he said.
Officers then saw two men run out of the store with merchandise, Fekety said.
"One of the men fled on foot while the other entered the van and drove off at a high rate of speed," he said. "Officers quickly apprehended the man who fled on foot. The suspect who drove away in the van only made it a short distance before he lost control and crashed into a bus stop on the southwest corner of Hollywood Way and Chandler Boulevard. The driver then fled on foot and has not yet been found."
Officers searched the van and found stolen merchandise, Fekety said. They then noticed the ignition had been tampered with, and discovered the van had been reported stolen.
The man who was arrested was identified as David Veliz, 36, of Canoga Park, who was booked on suspicion of burglary, Fekety said. He was held on $135,000 bail.