This Ride a Case of Monkey Business

A troupe of performing chimpanzees became unwitting cohorts in a simian joy ride Saturday morning, when a man stole a van sitting outside a gas station in Castaic.

Larry Sturchen, a 30-year-old transient, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto, grand theft property and drunk driving by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies after a 15-minute chase. Deputies apprehended Sturchen on a dirt road west of Interstate 5, said Sgt. David Stunson of the Santa Clarita Valley station.

Gregory Lille, who owns the six male and female chimpanzees worth about $100,000, was transporting the performing animals from his Auburn-based business, Going Ape Animal Rental, to Los Angeles, Lille’s secretary said. But she was uncertain where Lille was headed.

The auto theft occurred after Lille left the keys in the ignition of his 1981 Ford van while shopping at a Shell gas station mini-mart in the 31400 block of Parker Road at 2:30 a.m., Stunson said.

When Lille returned to his car, the van was gone along with its six primate occupants, Stunson said.

Lille called sheriff’s deputies, who were still at the gas station when Sturchen drove past the mini-mart and Lille identified his van to officers, Stunson said.

The deputies chased the van, which was weaving erratically on the road for about 15 minutes, he said.

Sturchen stopped the van after the road became too steep and narrow for him to continue. He was ordered out of the vehicle by deputies, Stunson said.

“It appears that the man had been drinking a bit to much,” Sgt. Gary Sinclair said later. “It’s obvious he didn’t make a real successful getaway.”