On Wednesday, an alleged purse theft led to a high-speed chase through the streets of Ventura County, ending with an arrest in Simi Valley. According to a statement obtained by Nixle, the suspect, identified as 33-year-old William Felipe Agudelo Puertas of Los Angeles, snatched a purse from a woman who was loading groceries into her car at a Costco store on Park Center Way. Witnesses immediately notified the victim and provided police with a description of the suspect and his vehicle, a gray Toyota Prius.
Police located the unoccupied vehicle shortly after, sitting in the parking lot of a Best Buy on Simi Town Center Way. While attempting to make a large purchase with the victim's stolen credit cards, they were tipped off to the suspicious activity after the transactions were declined. As reported by KTLA, Puertas resumed his flight when he returned to the Prius and refused to stop for officers, instigating the chase.
The pursuit escalated as Puertas rocketed speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, weaving through traffic on the 118 Freeway heading toward Moorpark and Thousand Oaks. Nixle details the chase circled back to Simi Valley, where a successful PIT maneuver was employed near First Street to halt the high-speed runner.
Following his capture, Simi Valley police arrested Puertas on charges of felony evading, grand theft, and identity theft. They also discovered that the suspect had an outstanding felony warrant for similar crimes in San Bernardino County. Kept on $325,000 bail, in the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility, the police uncovered his history of crime. "Purse thefts from shopping carts have become increasingly common and are often carried out by organized groups targeting vulnerable victims," officers warned in the Nixle report. The public is urged by the authorities to stay vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to prevent further incidents.
