Wild Chase Ends in Rollover Crash, Arrest of Suspects in Lake Forest Burglaries

After a high speed chase that ended in a rollover crash off the 405 freeway, Orange County Sheriff’s investigators believe they captured two suspects involved in a series of smash and grab restaurant burglaries in San Juan Capistrano and Lake Forest.

The robberies, which occurred early Wednesday morning, were the latest in a string of similar thefts terrorizing South County businesses.

“Early this morning somewhere around 5:15 a.m., deputies received some information that a commercial burglary had occurred in San Juan Capistrano at the Bad to the Bone restaurant,” said Lt. Mark Stichter.

Earlier in the morning, deputies also received reports of similar smash and grab burglaries at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe on El Toro Road and El Progreso on Mexican Restaurant on Raymond Way in Lake Forest.

Related: Lake Forest Hit Hard in Smash and Grab Burglary Spree

About 15 minutes after the San Juan Capistrano burglary, deputies spotted a Black Chevrolet Suburban with chrome rims matching the vehicle seen at the crime near El Toro Road and the 5 Freeway, said Stichter.

“They tried to stop the vehicle, but it did not yield,” Stichter said. “A pursuit of that vehicle began.”

During the chase, the suspects were seen throwing unknown items out of the SUV onto the freeway, Stichter said.

The driver attempted to exit freeway at Fairview Road, but the SUV rolled over on the offramp, Stichter said.

Two male suspects in their 20s to 30s were taken into custody and hospitalized for their injuries.

In each two of the burglaries, the thieves made off with cash registers. The thefts are similar to a rash of overnight restaurant burglaries targeting businesses in Dana Point, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente in recent weeks.

Investigators are working to determine if the suspects arrested wednesday are connected to the previous burglaries, said Stichter.