Alleged Teen Getaway Driver Tied to Redwood City Break-In, Prosecutors Say

REDWOOD CITY, CA — The alleged getaway driver for a San Mateo County burglary gang pleaded not guilty to five counts of burglary on Monday, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Briana Ortega, 18, was arrested after investigators tracked her car to her home in Santa Clara, where they found some of the items stolen from five different burglaries, prosecutors said.

Her silver Pontiac was first spotted outside a window smash burglary at a residence on Elm Street in San Carlos at about 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 30.

A sheriff's deputy happened to see three suspects run out of the house and jump in the car after the burglary, prosecutors said. Among other things, they made off with a gun and a laptop computer.

Four more daytime burglaries followed on Dec. 14 - in the 200 block of Alameda de las Pulgas in Redwood City, the 1600 block of Taylor Street in San Mateo, and in two homes on Cottage Grove Avenue in San Mateo.

Ortega was allegedly the getaway driver for all four of those burglaries as well, prosecutors said.

She pleaded not guilty to all five counts and was ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 30, prosecutors said. She remains in custody on $100,000 bail.

— By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock