Briefly In Public Safety: Alleged gang members arrested for theft

Three reputed gang members were arrested Monday night after allegedly stealing a purse from a car and leading police on a chase into Pasadena, officials said Wednesday.

Jose Rivera, 21, of Pasadena, Jose Olivera, 27, of Monrovia and Edwin Garcia, 28, of Pasadena were arrested on suspicion of burglary, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

The trio are alleged members of a notorious street gang, he said.

The group allegedly targeted a car parked at Crescenta Valley Park on Dunsmore Avenue, smashed its window and stole a woman’s purse, according to police reports.

The woman had taken her child to the park about 5 p.m. for karate practice and was notified by a witness that her car was broken into.

The witness told police that the thieves got into a burgundy sedan with no license plate.

A police helicopter got the burglary call, spotted the car and followed the car into Pasadena, where Glendale Police stopped the suspects.

Officers searched the car and found the woman’s purse, police said.

The witness also identified the car and the men as the alleged thieves, according to police reports.

Lorenz said the incident shows that nonresidents are more frequently coming into Glendale to commit crimes, which affects how police patrol the community.