El Monte police SUV stolen while officers chase burglary suspect

El Monte police inadvertently became crime victims late Thursday when their vehicle was stolen during a foot chase stemming from another incident.

Police were responding to a burglary report about 10:55 p.m. in the 9600 block of Telstar Avenue when they spotted a man on a bicycle riding away from the business, according to the El Monte Police Department.

Officers chased the man until he crashed into a bush, abandoned his bicycle and ran away.

That’s when officers exited their department-issued SUV and ran after the suspect. They caught up to him less than a half-mile away and arrested him.

When the officers returned to where they had left the vehicle, it was missing.

Police launched an intense search in the area.

Then about 11:50 p.m., the idling police vehicle was found parked along the eastbound 10 Freeway onramp at Stewart Street.

Nobody was inside, police said.

It is unclear what the suspect or suspects did with the SUV while it was gone.

Police said all of the equipment and weapons inside the vehicle were accounted for.

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