Morgan Hill auto burglary suspects flee after owner confrontation

(KRON) — A South Bay police pursuit of armed auto burglary suspects ended in one arrest on Thursday, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department. Officers initially responded after a vehicle owner confronted the burglars, who all brandished handguns before fleeing.

The in-progress auto burglary was reported at around 5:49 a.m. near Depot and Third streets in Morgan Hill. Shortly after, a police officer located the two vehicles that the suspects fled in and attempted a vehicle stop. Neither of the suspect vehicles complied, and authorities began a high-speed pursuit, Morgan Hill PD said.

Both of the suspect vehicles had their tires punctured by the use of spike strips before they entered northbound Highway 101 during the peak morning commute. Due to the unsafe conditions with commuters, the high-speed pursuit was terminated, police said.

One suspect vehicle was located minutes later abandoned on Cochrane Road at Malaguerra Avenue. The second suspect vehicle was found unoccupied in the Mission Ranch neighborhood.

A multi-agency search for the suspects was initiated, including help from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Gilroy Police Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. Authorities used K-9s, drones and a helicopter to assist in the yard-to-yard search over the next few hours.

One suspect was ultimately located, Morgan Hill PD said, and had a loaded ghost gun in their possession. They were booked into the Santa Clara  County Main Jail for robbery, burglary and possession of a firearm.

Community members in the area of Mission Ranch and Coyote Estates are asked to check home surveillance video. Helpful footage can be sent to Detective Corporal Sean Farrell at Sean.Farrell@morganhill.ca.gov.

​(KRON) — A South Bay police pursuit of armed auto burglary suspects ended in one arrest on Thursday, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department. Officers initially responded after a vehicle owner confronted the burglars, who all brandished handguns before fleeing. The in-progress auto burglary was reported at around 5:49 a.m. near Depot and Third […]