Deputies nab second suspect after La Cañada residential burglary

Ocean View Boulevard residents were on alert Wednesday after burglary suspects spotted by a neighbor led to the immediate capture of one man and the eventual arrest of a second in hiding, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The initial incident occurred around 10 a.m., when a La Cañada resident living near the 5500 block of Rock Castle Drive called the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station to report seeing two men in the area who may have been connected to a home break-in, according to watch commander Lt. Doug Mohrhoff.

“We received a call about a residential burglary,” Mohrhoff said, indicating that sheriff’s deputies were on the scene within minutes. “[Deputies] observed two suspects who were running. They were able to capture one and they initiated a search for the second.”

Details were still forthcoming Wednesday afternoon, pending further investigation, but the watch commander said the first alleged suspect was taken into custody and booked at the Crescenta Valley station.

Mohrhoff described the first suspect taken into custody as a black male in his 20s who is not a resident of the area. At 3 p.m., the time of the interview, the second suspect was still at large.

But sometime abut 4 p.m., another neighbor called the sheriff’s station to report a man was hiding in the yard of her home, also in the vicinity of Rock Castle Drive, according to Jesus Alcala, a watch deputy on duty. Deputies responded, and a helicopter was deployed in the search.

“There was one person in the yard, and [deputies] approached him,” Alcala said, adding that while a description and details were not immediately available, the man was taken into custody.

The case was still being processed, making it unclear what may have been taken in the burglary, but Mohrhoff said smaller items that had allegedly been taken were returned to the victim immediately following the incident.

Mohrhoff reminded residents to keep their homes secured, especially in their absence.

“Even if you’re leaving your house for a short period of time, please secure doors and windows to reduce the chances of something like this happening,” he advised.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine