Mission Viejo Cops Apprehend Suspected Car Thief

MISSION VIEJO, CA —La Tierra Elementary School was ordered to "shelter-in-place" while sheriff's deputies searched for a suspected car thief in the area, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.

Officers put the shelter-in-place order into effect shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday, during the search, and it was lifted about a half-hour later upon the suspect's capture.

OCSD officers focused their search near the Mission Viejo school where the stolen car was found. The suspect fled from pursuing officers on foot, and was ultimately located in Laguna Hills and taken into custody, Carrie Braun, spokesperson for the OCSD told Patch.

His name has not yet been released.

Authorities say there was never an immediate threat to La Tierra Elementary School, though school resource officers remained on the campus.

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