Robbery Suspects Crash, Run From Cops In Burlingame, Police Say

MILLBRAE, CA — A woman and a teen were behind bars this week, accused in a street-side robbery off El Camino Real in Millbrae, sheriff's officials announced. The woman is also facing charges of DUI and hit-and-run after crashing in nearby Burlingame.

It all started just before 10 a.m. Monday when a boy stole a woman's purse in the area of El Camino Real and Taylor Avenue, according to sheriff's Det. Rosemerry Blankswade.

"The female adult victim was sitting on the sidewalk near the Chevron gas station, with her [purse] next to her when the unknown male juvenile suspect approached the victim and grabbed her purse," Blankswade said in a news release. "The victim attempted to pull her purse back, but was unsuccessful."

The boy then hopped into a Chrysler sedan and the driver of that car — later identified as 28-year-old Vailolo Ieremia of Brisbane — took off speeding, according to Blankswade.

Sheriff's officials spread the word about what had just happened and soon learned that Burlingame police were investigating two hit-and-run crashes involving the same Chrysler.

"Through the investigation, we learned the suspects ran from the vehicle after the two collisions, but were found hiding nearby," Blankswade said. "As a result of a team effort between Burlingame Police Department and San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, the suspects were placed under arrest."

The boy, a 15-year-old San Francisco resident, was taken to the San Mateo Youth Services Center and booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy, according to sheriff's officials. Ieremia was booked into the Redwood City jail on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy, hit-and-run and DUI.

— Image courtesy San Mateo County Sheriff's Office