By Bay City News.
A hospital had to be closed Monday in San Mateo County after authorities chased a vehicle full of people suspected of participating in a car theft ring.
Just before 3 a.m., officers from Millbrae Police and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office were alerted to a stolen Jeep that was allegedly involved in a series of car thefts within the county.
Around 3:30 p.m., automated license plate readers in Millbrae detected the Jeep entering the city limits. Officers located the vehicle, but the suspects allegedly attempted to flee. Authorities gave chase and used spike strips to deflate three of the Jeep's tires, but the car continued toward Burlingame. The Jeep stopped in front of Mills-Peninsula Medical Center when the remaining tires fell off its rims.
Two suspects were immediately detained, but two others fled on foot to a parking lot. At that point, the hospital began a lockdown, according to the San Mateo County sheriff.
Officers from the San Bruno, Burlingame, San Mateo and Hillsborough police departments set up a perimeter to try to corral the suspects, and San Bruno provided a drone to help locate them.
Ultimately, all four suspects were taken into custody with no injuries reported, although at least one suspect reportedly resisted arrest.
Those arrested were a 17-year-old minor, James Torres, 19, Jesús Pérez, 20, and Rubén RamÃrez, 19. All suspects are from San José. They were booked on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property and evading.
This is an ongoing investigation with links to victims in other areas, according to the Sheriff. Anyone who may have helpful information in this case is asked to contact the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office at (650) 363-4008.
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