4 arrested after Apple store theft in Brea Mall turns into pursuit that ends with police vehicles rammed

Four people were taken into custody Tuesday night, April 23, after a theft at the Apple store in the Brea Mall and a pursuit that included the suspects’ car ramming into police vehicles.

Just before 8:45 p.m., police were called about several males stealing merchandise on display, said Brea police Lt. Adam Hawley.

The suspects ran off, got into a car and fled the mall’s parking lot.

But officers and detectives spotting the fleeing car and tried to pull it over – but the vehicle intentionally struck a police vehicle and sped off, Hawley said.

Police chased after the car to near Lambert Road and 57 Freeway, with the suspects intentionally colliding with the police vehicles two more times before a police officer rammed the suspects’ car back, disabling it.

“When the suspect vehicle came to a stop in a parking lot on the east side of the freeway, all of the occupants fled the vehicle on foot and ran into the adjacent brush alongside the freeway,” Hawley said.

Officers chased the suspects, some who had jumped over fences along the freeway.

Police set up a perimeter.

After searching about with canines and a helicopter, four suspects were taken into custody, and officers found the property believed stolen.

Detectives were tying to determine if any suspect got away.

Brea police asked that anyone with information about the incident call them at 714-990-7911.