Four Arrested for Allegedly Burglarizing Sports Card Store, Two Still at Large
BURBANK — Four individuals have been arrested in connection to a commercial burglary that occurred early on the morning of March 9 at Burbank Sportscards.
According to a Burbank PD press release, the incident was reported by an alert resident who heard the business’ burglary alarm and banging noises at the back of the store. The resident also reported seeing a blue truck leaving the location at high speed.
Burbank Police responded quickly to the call and confirmed that the store had been broken into. They soon located a blue truck traveling east on Burbank Boulevard at Front Street and attempted to stop the driver, but the driver didn’t yield and continued north on Interstate 5. The driver eventually exited the freeway at Sunland Boulevard in Los Angeles and stopped the vehicle on the 8400 block of Wheatland Boulevard, police said.
Six occupants reportedly ran from the vehicle, but police officers were able to apprehend four of them.
The four apprehended are identified as Tony Pineda, Francisco Mena, Diego Erazo, and Henry Flores — all arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary and other charges. They are scheduled to appear in court today, March 13, and formal charges are pending review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, police said.
Investigators reportedly found a significant amount of property stolen from Burbank Sportscards in the suspects’ vehicle, as well as in their possession. Detectives are also looking into the possibility that the same suspects are responsible for a second burglary at a sports card store in Burbank that occurred on March 1.
The earlier burglary was reported at Bullpen Burbank, located on Hollywood Way. The owner of the store reported the loss to be more than $230,000 in US currency and merchandise.
Detectives conducted two probation searches at two homes related to the four men arrested this morning and located evidence linking the suspects to the burglary of Bullpen Burbank, police said.
