Police Car Rammed During Lamorinda Chase: Police

LAMORINDA, CA — A wild police chase through Lamorinda Tuesday that included the suspect vehicle ramming a police car, ended with the stolen vehicle abandoned and packages stolen from a half-dozen local homes recovered, but no arrests were made, according to the Moraga Police Department.

No injuries were reported.

Police also recovered a puppy found in the abandoned vehicle.

Events began to unfold at 4:15 p.m. when Moraga Police received a report of a package theft that had just happened on Williams Drive. The victim provided a description of the suspect and vehicle to Dispatch.

That was followed by another report of a package theft in the Bluffs neighborhood, with the same suspect vehicle and a similar suspect description. As officers were responding, a third package theft call came in from the Camino Colorados neighborhood in Lafayette.

Moraga Police credit the quick action by residents with leading them to the suspects.

Both Moraga and Lafayette officers responded to the area and the suspect vehicle was spotted on Rohrer Drive. The officer tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver kept going and turned onto St. Mary’s Road.

While on St. Mary’s Road, the suspect vehicle rammed another Moraga Police vehicle. The officer was not injured and the vehicle sustained only minor damage.

The pursuit continued onto Moraga Road, eventually turning onto Pinehurst Road from Canyon Road.

At that point, police called off the pursuit because of safety concerns. Officers lost sight of the vehicle.

It was later found about a quarter-mile north of the county line on Pinehurst Road. The vehicle had spun out and it was abandoned. Police believe the suspects ran into the East Bay MUD South Watershed area. An extensive search of the area was conducted by officers, a Lafayette Police K-9 and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff’s helicopter.

The suspects got away. An investigation continues.

Police say packages stolen from 3 Moraga and 3 Lafayette homes were recovered. The abandoned 3-month-old puppy was turned over to Animal Services. Police did not say if the puppy was chipped.

Moraga Police offer the following tips to avoid thefts:

• Ensure that packages are delivered when someone is home, ask a neighbor to hold packages for you, use business addresses or use Amazon hubs or delivery lockers.
• Don’t leave valuables…or something that appears to be valuable…in your vehicle and ensure that your vehicle is locked…even in your driveway.
• Report crimes and suspicious persons/activity to theDispatch Center at 925-284-5010.