BMX Riding Bandits Nabbed In Claremont: Cops

CLAREMONT, CA —Two men caught on camera riding BMX bicycles around a commercial business were arrested for burglary this week, officials say. A "proactive victim and video surveillance" were attributed for the swift arrest, the Claremont Police Department reported.

On Saturday, Feb. 9, two bike riders were seen on camera "casing the business" on the 400 block of West Arrow Highway, Lt. Mike Ciszek said in a recent release. A few hours later, both subjects returned in a white Toyota Corolla and then burglarized the business, he said.
"The Corolla was later determined to be stolen," he said.
The victim of those robberies shared photos of the subjects with investigating officers right away, according to Ciszek.

Shortly after, one was discovered on his BMX bike on Arrow Highway, just west of the business. The second was seen going east on his BMX bike, through the gas station at Arrow and Indian Hill.
Both men were arrested for burglary in under a half-hour from the original burglary call, Ciszek said.

The two men were identified as Richard Valenzuela, 53, and Can Phao, 34, both residents of Pomona. They were being held at Claremont City Jail, awaiting court appearance at Pomona Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

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