BURBANK : 3 Men Held in Theft From Credit Union

After a high-speed chase Thursday, police caught three men who allegedly robbed the Lockheed Federal Credit Union.

Eric Smith and Deamon Wilson, 18-year-olds from Inglewood, and Wallace Spencer, 30, of Claremont were arrested on suspicion of armed bank robbery, Burbank Police Lt. Larry Koch said.

They are believed to have been the three who burst into Lockheed Federal Credit Union at 2340 N. Hollywood Way in a takeover-style heist at 10:55 a.m. Thursday, Koch said.

At least two robbers were armed, and the three took “several thousand dollars” from cash drawers, he said.

A witness, who saw the robbers flee in a car, contacted police, and Burbank Officer Niles Sherman saw a car matching the description a few blocks away at Vanowen Street.

“He sees them, they see him and the pursuit is on,” Koch said.

Speeds during the 10-minute chase reached 70 to 80 m.p.h., he said. Fearing for the safety of other motorists, Burbank Police Detective Ronald Caruso crashed his vehicle into the fender of the suspects’ car at Grandview and Glenwood avenues in Glendale.

No one was injured, and cash and pistols were recovered from the vehicle, which was carjacked Dec. 10 in Gardena, Koch said.

All three were booked into Burbank City Jail without bail.