Burglary From A Motor Vehicle Suspects Arrested Following Tip From Victim

Los Angeles:  A victim’s tip leads Wilshire Area Auto detectives to two suspects wanted in a rash of Burglaries from a Motor Vehicle throughout Wilshire Division.   

On Friday, September 19, 2008 at 9:25 a.m., West Los Angeles patrol officers responded to a radio call of a "Citizen following a burglary suspect" at Robertson Avenue and Cattaragus Street.A few minutes earlier, the victim, had seen the suspects, 22-year-old Ricardo Celio and 19-year-old Adan Bernal break into his car, remove his property and drive away at a high rate of speed.  The victim followed Celio and Bernal as he called 911 on his cell phone and gave the operator a description of the suspect’s car.

LAPD Air Support Division responded and tracked the suspect’s car as it sped east bound on the 10 freeway with ground units following.  The suspects exited the freeway and stopped at 1420 West 28th Street.  The passenger ran from the car and tried to hide in an unlocked car in a rear yard and was taken into custody without incident.  The driver, continued on 28th Street for a short distance.  He then stopped the car, ran away and hid in a trash can in another rear yard.  He was also taken into custody by officers at scene without incident.  Celio and Bernal are believed to be responsible for approximately 75 vehicles burglaries throughout Wilshire Division.  Detectives believe that certain sport utility vehicles were targeted because of the ease in which the suspects can gain entry.  Celio and Bernal were arrested and booked for Burglary From a Motor Vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Wilshire Area Auto Detective Robert Palacios at 213-922-8248. After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855) or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website, www.lapdonline.org.  All tips will remain anonymous.