MISSION VIEJO : ‘Routine’ Stop Nets Jewel Theft Suspects
Two California Highway Patrol officers making a routine traffic stop Thursday morning arrested a pair of Los Angeles men in connection with a La Jolla jewelry store burglary.
Lawrence Darrington and Kevin Smith, both 24, were arrested on suspicion of burglary about 4:30 a.m., half an hour after they were stopped for speeding on the San Diego Freeway, CHP Officer Patti Gentile said.
The two were later turned over to the San Diego Police Department, which is investigating the early-morning looting of Bailey, Banks & Biddle Jewelers, where about $50,000 worth of jewelry was stolen, Gentile said.
The officers “made a speed stop and one thing led to another,” Gentile said.
Patrolmen Steve Young and Mike Clare spotted a white, 1988 Nissan Sentra speeding north at the Pacific Coast Highway exit. The car was traveling about 80 m.p.h., Gentile said.
The officers pulled the car over at the Avery Parkway off-ramp. One of the officers who approached the Nissan noticed two pillowcases full of jewelry on the back seat.
In addition to the burglary charge, Darrington, the driver, was cited for speeding and not wearing a seat belt, Gentile said. Smith was also ticketed for not wearing a seat belt.
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