Suspected burglar, 18, leads police on a high-speed pursuit in Burbank

A suspected burglar linked to six commercial break-ins led Burbank police on a high-speed pursuit early Tuesday, blowing through red lights and stop signs before he was arrested, authorities said.

Police said Thursday that Compton resident Keon Clarke, 18, was charged with six counts of commercial burglary and one count of evading police, while two other suspects involved in the break-ins remain at large.

The investigation began early Tuesday morning, when patrol officers drove up to a car parked in an alley behind Tony’s Deli on Magnolia Boulevard, prompting the driver to take off, said Burbank Police Sgt. Claudio Losacco.

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Officers began chasing the car but canceled the pursuit after the driver, later identified as Clarke, traveled past red lights and stop signs without slowing down, he said.

Police later found the car parked in Burbank’s hillside, on Orange Grove Terrace above Sunset Canyon Drive. There, Clarke, who was in the car, was taken into custody.

Two other suspects involved fled on foot. After searching, police couldn’t find them.

Around the same time, police were alerted to a burglary alarm at the deli, where they found the front door shattered and the safe tampered with. Two other businesses — including San Marco Coffee and Papa John’s Pizza — were also burglarized before the pursuit, Losacco said.

Investigators recognized the description of Clarke’s car, which had reportedly been used in three other early morning break-ins on Oct. 9 in Burbank. Cash was taken, though police did not say how much.

When police questioned Clarke, he reportedly confessed to the six burglaries. Investigators are working to identify his accomplices.

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Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atchek