3 Teens in Custody After Pursuit, Hot-Prowl Burglary

An 18-year-old man and two juveniles are in custody Wednesday after a hot-prowl burglary and vehicle pursuit Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Shortly before noon Tuesday, a Palos Verdes Estates resident reported a burglary in progress at his home in the vicinity of Granvia Altamira and Via Sonoma, sheriff’s Det. Sgt. Thomas Arellano said.

The two suspects had broken in while the man was still home. After he confronted them, the suspects fled and got into a car where the third suspect was waiting, Arellano said.

A short pursuit followed until the car collided with a curb near the Palos Verdes Country Club, Arellano said. The three suspects then fled and a containment was set up around the area.

Both nearby Montemalaga and Cornerstone elementary schools were placed on lockdown at around 1:25 p.m. as a precaution while deputies search for the suspects.

Two suspects were located almost immediately, Arellano said.

The lockdown at Cornerstone was lifted at around 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. for Montemalaga.

The third suspect was located at Palos Verdes Country Club at around 9 p.m., Arellano said.

Authorities believe the three are part of a gang but have not been able to confirm, he said.

Palos Verdes Estates Police officers, air assets from the sheriff’s department Aero Bureau and Los Angeles Police Department assisted in the operation.