MONTEBELLO — Sheriff’s SWAT officials and Montebello police surrounded a Montebello condominium Friday where a burglary suspect was believed to be holed up, but ultimately found the place empty, police said.
The incident was reported about 8:20 a.m. in the 1600 block of Neil Armstrong Street, Montebello police Lt. Andy Vuncanon said in a written statement.
Officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress and believed the burglar may still have been inside the home when they arrived, the lieutenant said.
Police officers learned from the resident that there were guns stored inside the home, he said, so they called for assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau — the sheriff’s version of a SWAT team.
Authorities carried out a search of the home, but the burglar was not found inside, Vuncanon said.
“It’s presumed the suspect (or suspects) fled out of a back window while officers were setting up the containment (perimeter),” Vuncanon said.
No guns or other items were found missing from the condominium, Vuncanon said, though it appeared a burglar had forced entry into the home through a sliding glass door.