Police Nab Purse Snatchers After Chase

Police arrested two suspected purse snatchers Monday after a 100-mph freeway chase, saying the men may be responsible for other local purse thefts.

The men grabbed a woman’s purse about 1:10 p.m. at Riverside Drive and North Valley Street, Burbank Police Sgt. Jay Jette said. Minutes later, plainclothes Burbank detectives spotted the suspects’ car at Roscoe and Glenoaks boulevards, and the chase was on.

At speeds up to 100 mph, the suspects drove briefly up the Golden State Freeway, crossing onto the Ventura Freeway before heading south again on the Golden State and spinning out of control on the Los Feliz Boulevard offramp, Jette said.

Pursuing Burbank police captured Nathaniel Grant, 28, and Tony Jones, 33, both of Lancaster, Jette said.

Jette said police are investigating whether the men are connected to a string of purse snatchings in the Burbank-Glendale area. In one incident, he said, the thieves’ car hit their victim when they drove off.