Photo courtesy Burbank Police — Suspect in theft at Bret Harte Elementary School 3200 Jeffries Avenue, Burbank
A person of interest has been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of money and a credit card from a teacher’s purse at Bret Harte Elementary School in Burbank . A week ago yesterday, Burbank Police released photos of the suspect and her vehicle and asked for the public’s help in tracking down the woman described in a news release only as “African-American, 30 to 40 years old. ”
The news release and photos had a huge impact. After they were sent out investigators reportedly “began receiving calls from the public almost immediately.” As a result, the police now believe “the same person likely committed another theft at a second Burbank school, Emerson Elementary.” Also, the suspect is wanted for questioning in connection with similar crimes in La Crescenta and El Segundo.
Yesterday, a person of interest was taken into custody by Burbank property detectives. Sergeant Claudio Losacco says “the individual arrested had an outstanding warrant out of Los Angeles for a similar crime. Burbank Police investigators booked her on the warrant, but elected not to immediately charge her with the Burbank case.”
The investigation is ongoing, anyone with information is asked to contact Burbank Detective, Steve Karagiosian, at (818) 238-3210. In answer to recent questions about the source of the photos — Sgt. Losacco told Media City Groove they are not “from Burbank schools.”
