BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (CNS) - Suspects in four vehicles staged a "brazen" burglary at a Rodeo Drive boutique Tuesday and police released surveillance video of the culprits in the act.
Officers responded about 3:50 a.m. to a report of a commercial burglary in progress in the 400 block of North Rodeo Drive, according to Beverly Hills police Lt. Elisabeth Albanese.
The suspects first tried to smash their way into a Saint Laurent shop, but failing that ended up breaking into and burglarizing the Zadig et Voltaire boutique next door.
"Surveillance video shows four vehicles, driving in succession, stop alongside the curb, followed by multiple suspects quickly exiting the vehicles," Albanese said.
"In a matter of 90 seconds, the suspects first attempted to gain access to the storefront at 469 N. Rodeo Drive by smashing the window, but were unsuccessful. The suspects then successfully gained access to the storefront at 465 N. Rodeo Drive by smashing a window."
The suspects -- the surveillance video shows about 10 of them -- then removed merchandise and loaded it into the vehicles before fleeing south on Rodeo Drive, Albanese said.
"One of the suspect vehicles was located in the area of North Santa Monica and Westwood boulevards. An enforcement stop was attempted; however, the suspects failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit ensued," Albanese said.
At least four suspects bailed out of the vehicle in the area of Cloverdale Avenue and Rodeo Road in Los Angeles and fled on foot. They were not caught, Albanese said.
"The suspect vehicle (a black Hyundai four-door) was recovered by police," Albanese said. "Several items of stolen merchandise were recovered after they were discarded from the suspect vehicle during the pursuit."
The other vehicles are believed to be a gray or silver BMW two-door, a gray or silver BMW X5 SUV and a black Honda Civic four-door, according to Albanese, who said all four vehicles had paper plates.
Police were investigating if Tuesday's burglary, which Albanese described as "brazen," was related to a smash-and-grab burglary about 4 a.m. May 21 at a Saks Fifth Avenue store in the 9600 block of Wilshire Boulevard, between Peck and Bedford drives, Albanese said.
Anyone with information about either burglary was urged to call Beverly Hills police at (310) 285-2158.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.
