A brazen break-in involving two cars boxing in a commercial truck at an intersection in Chino was caught on traffic surveillance video, leading to the quick arrest of the suspects.
The Chino Police Department posted the surveillance video on Facebook on Wednesday, showing the incident that happened at 4:48 p.m. on Feb. 20 at Central Avenue and Chino Hills Parkway.
The clip shows a commercial truck stopped at an intersection, with several surrounding motorists going about their business. A car and a white van position themselves in front and behind the truck, and then burglary suspects exit the vehicles.
Police said the suspects then approached the truck’s trailer, cut the trailer’s lock and quickly stole $7,000 worth of computer equipment.
When confronted, one suspect fled on foot, and the other drove off in the white van.
Chino police said the commercial truck driver reported the theft. Using the department’s Real-Time Crime Center, officers were able to use surveillance video to track the white van as it entered the 60 Freeway.
Officers stopped the van and arrested two suspects, one from LA and the other from Cudahy.
The Chino Police Department said officers searched the white van and found burglary tools and the property stolen from the commercial truck at the intersection.
“This case highlights the importance of quick reporting and coordinated response in disrupting organized theft,” the police department said in the Facebook post. “If you see suspicious activity, report it immediately.”
Sgt. Shauna Hill with Chino police told NBC Los Angeles that the department’s Real-Time Crime Center includes a series of traffic and security cameras that are up around the city. Analysts monitor the cameras and are able to report crimes to the department in real-time.