3 Suspected Of Commercial Burglary Arrested In South Bay

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Three suspects were arrested in connection with burglaries at a Torrance camera shop.

The first arrest, of 29-year-old Colomba Contreras of Argentina, was made after officers responded at about 2:15 a.m. on Aug. 8 to a burglar alarm at Paul's Photo, 23845 Hawthorne Blvd., and allegedly found the woman and a vehicle next to the business. Inside the vehicle was more than $40,000 worth of camera equipment, according to Torrance Police Sgt. Ronald Harris.

"Contreras was arrested and detectives began an in-depth investigation to identify other co-conspirators," Harris said.

About midnight on Aug. 20, officers responded to a burglary in progress at the same business and upon arrival located and arrested 37-year-old Hugo Sanchez of Van Nuys for allegedly being in a stolen vehicle and committing commercial burglary, Harris said.

No additional suspects were found, but detectives continued their follow-up investigation, which included DNA analysis, and identified alleged co- conspirator Claudio Bravo, 41, of Panorama City and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Harris said.

Bravo was arrested Sept. 27 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on suspicion of separate, unspecified offenses, according to the sergeant.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock