Firetruck Was Just ‘Easier’ to Steal : Crime: Suspect in Monday’s theft and subsequent chase tells police he always wanted to steal a police car.

Police say Arturo Guzman Robles told them he “always wanted to steal a police car.”

But, Seal Beach police officers said, Robles told them he settled for a firetruck instead because it “would be easier.”

“That was the only comment he made to us,” Sgt. Dean Zanone said of the Monday theft that resulted in a 20-minute chase by officers from two cities.

The 27-year-old Anaheim man will be charged with grand theft auto and assault on a police officer for allegedly stealing the yellow Seal Beach firetruck and attempting to run over an officer during the chase, Zanone said.

Court records show that Monday was not the first time Robles was arrested in connection with a stolen vehicle.

According to records, Robles pleaded guilty to burglary and grand theft auto in September, 1989. Robles and an accomplice broke into a residence in Fullerton and later were stopped in a stolen car, according to court records. Robles pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 120 days in jail and three years’ probation. Two months later, he was stopped by Los Angeles police for allegedly driving a stolen car.

Garden Grove police said Robles was arrested in 1990 for a misdemeanor vehicle theft.

“It was a roommate, ex-roommate incident,” Lt. John Woods said.

Woods said police found a 1988 Toyota Corolla belonging to Robles’ then-roommate in Hollywood and linked Robles to the theft of the car. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail for auto theft and 16 months in state prison for violating his probation in the 1989 incident.

Robles’ driver’s license was suspended in July, 1993, because of two unpaid fines for traffic violations, according to a state Department of Motor Vehicles representative.

The first violation occurred on Nov. 13, 1991, when Robles was charged with failing to yield to pedestrians within a crosswalk, records show. Also, Robles was issued a ticket in February, 1992, for not wearing a seat belt. Both times, he appeared in court and pleaded guilty but failed to pay his fines, officials said.

Monday’s incident started shortly after 9 p.m. when Seal Beach paramedics were administering aid to someone near Pacific Coast Highway and 1st Street, Zanone said.

The firetruck was parked on the side of the road when Robles hopped in and drove away, officials said.

Seal Beach police, joined by a caravan of Huntington Beach officers and police helicopters, chased the firetruck for about 20 minutes.

Robles ran a red light at Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, police said.

During the chase, Robles forced a police car over the raised center divider, Zanone said. The officer was not injured.

Police threw spiked strips across the highway and punctured one of the firetruck’s tires. Officials said some officers got out of their cruisers and Robles attempted to run over them. But when Robles neared the Huntington Beach Pier, the truck’s deflated tire began smoking and he slowly pulled over to the curb.

Robles was arrested without incident and is being held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Times staff writer Ken Ellingwood contributed to this article.