A theft suspect was arrested after leading police on a high-speed pursuit in Ventura County.
Simi Valley police identified the man as William Felipe Agudelo Puertas, 33, from Los Angeles.
On Feb. 26, a female victim was loading groceries into her car outside a Costco at 2660 Park Center Way in Simi Valley when the suspect stole her purse from the shopping cart, got into his car and sped away.
Witnesses who saw the theft called the police and provided a description of Puertas and his vehicle, a gray Toyota Prius.
Officers spotted the Prius at a nearby Best Buy parking lot. Puertas had entered the store and attempted to make a large purchase using the victim’s credit cards, but the transactions were declined, police said.
Puertas got into his car again and officers tried to pull him over, but he refused to stop, leading police on a high-speed chase that reached speeds over 100 miles per hour.
He drove onto the 118 Freeway and headed toward Moorpark and Thousand Oaks, before turning around and returning to Simi Valley. A successful PIT maneuver on the 118 Freeway near First Street finally stopped Puertas’ vehicle.
He was arrested for felony evading, grand theft, and identity theft. Police also discovered Puertas had an outstanding felony warrant for similar crimes in San Bernardino County. He is being held on $325,000 bail.
“Purse thefts from shopping carts have become increasingly common and are often carried out by organized groups targeting vulnerable victims,” police said. “In many cases, suspects distract victims while shopping or loading groceries into their vehicles. The Simi Valley Police Department encourages citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”
