Gilroy Burglary Suspects Lead Cops On Wild Chase

GILROY, CA — Two suspects tied to a string of burglaries including one in Gilroy were arrested Friday after leading authorities on a pursuit that started in southern Santa Clara County and ended in Oakland, Morgan Hill police said.

At around 7 p.m. officers were dispatched to a possible burglary in progress at Ulta Beauty located at 1015 Cochrane Rd. in Morgan Hill, police said.

Officers learned two female suspects were filling large bags of expensive perfume and fragrances according to police.

These same two suspects were involved in a similar incident reported at the Gilroy Ultra Beauty store at 950 Renz Lane, earlier in the day in which approximately $6,000 in merchandise was stolen, police said.

As responding units arrived, officers located the suspect vehicle fleeing the scene and a pursuit was initiated northbound on US 101 by MHPD.

This pursuit was eventually terminated in San Jose due to reckless and unsafe driving by the fleeing suspects.

It was later determined that the suspect vehicle fled the scene leaving behind the two female suspects inside the store, police said.

When the suspects realized their get-away vehicle was gone they carjacked and kidnapped an unsuspecting victim who they made drive them away from the scene to avoid capture, police said.

They were traveling north on Highway 101 towards San Jose when the victim saw a police car stopped on the side of the road near the Bailey Ave exit and realized the opportunity to escape by quickly pulling over and flagging down an officer according to police.

As the victim told the officer what had happened one of the suspects got into the driver’s seat of the victim’s vehicle and led authorities on an additional pursuit, police said.

Police units followed as they traveled north on 101 and then north on 880.

The California Highway Patrol assisted with the pursuit as units chased the suspects into Oakland.

The pursuit finally ended in the area of 48th Ave. and Ygnacio Ave. in Oakland.

Both suspects exited the stolen vehicle and ran away, police said.

OPD units arrived at the scene and established a perimeter. Both suspects were located nearby and taken into custody without incident, police said.

The stolen property was recovered after the suspects attempted to hide it in the rear yard of a residence, police said.

Klah Williams, 20 of Richmond, and her juvenile accomplice were transported back to Morgan Hill according to police.

Williams was later booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, conspiracy and evading police, police said.

Williams is suspected of similar thefts throughout the Bay Area, police said.

The juvenile suspect was booked into Juvenile Hall on similar charges according to police.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Bill Norman at 669 253-4982 or the anonymous tip-line at (408)947-STOP.