5 Arrested in Alleged Burglaries

Five gang members were captured Wednesday as they attempted to flee from what was apparently the latest of two burglaries, Los Angeles police reported.

Jose Sanchez, 26, and Manuel Xolo, 26, both of Pacoima, were arrested on suspicion of burglary, receiving stolen property and violation of parole, said Officer M. Halaby of the LAPD’s Devonshire Division. Three juveniles were also arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The five are admitted members of a gang, police said. Sanchez and Xolo were on parole for other violations, officers said.

Police said the men and boys had just burglarized the home of Harold Holland, 61, in the 17500 block of Kingsbury Street, when a neighbor called police to report unfamiliar cars in the neighborhood.

When police arrived at 11:30 a.m., the alleged burglars sped off in a van and a car in different directions.

After a brief chase, officers caught both vehicles. Discovered in the van were $5,000 in jewelry, electronic equipment, a television set and four rifles--all taken from Holland’s home, police said.

One vehicle contained jewelry from a previous burglary in Santa Clarita, Halaby said.

“They had at least 500 pieces of jewelry,” he said. “Each of them had a whole bunch of jewelry in their pockets. It was like whatever you can grab you can keep.”

The two men were being held without bail at the Devonshire Division and the three juveniles were sent to San Fernando Valley Juvenile Hall.