Stolen Van Rammed Into Tustin Store by Robbers Ignites Fire

A computer store was robbed of $20,000 in components early Friday by four hooded suspects who fled in a van after leaving another stolen van burning inside the building, police said.

The blaze caused an estimated $2 million in water and smoke damage to Micro Center, in the 1100 block of East Edinger Avenue, after it triggered sprinklers. Soot might have caused additional damage to the store’s large supply of computers, said Police Sgt. Mark Hein.

The robbery and fire occurred about 3:30 a.m. and was captured on a store’s security camera.

The men backed a van stolen in Pomona through the store’s glass doors and roll-down metal security gate, crashing into a support column. Fuel leaking from the van, which was kept running, appears to have ignited the blaze, Hein said.

The men, wearing gloves and ski masks or hoods, could be seen on video removing computer components and carrying them out. They fled in another full-size van, police said.

“It made a mess out of the place,” Hein said.