SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A man suspected of breaking into restaurants in 4S Ranch and University City within a span of an hour was arrested after a vehicle crash early Thursday morning, San Diego Police said.
An SDPD sergeant told ABC 10News a break-in was reported at the Board & Brew eatery in the 16400 block of Paseo Del Sur at around 3:30 a.m.
The Sushi Ren restaurant, located next door to Board & Brew, was also hit by the suspect, police said.
Officers dispatched to the scene were notified by SDPD’s Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) about a car in the area at the time of the break-ins.
About an hour later, officers were called to a restaurant in the 3800 block of Governor Drive after an alarm was triggered. Responding officers arrived to find shattered glass from the eatery's front door on the ground and no one inside.
Police said another ALPR notification indicated the car believed to be linked to the 4S Ranch break-ins was close to where the University City break-in occurred.
According to police, officers spotted the car a short time later on eastbound state Route 56 near Interstate 5 and followed it.
Officers, who were not actively pursuing the vehicle, tracked it until it spun out for unknown reasons at the Camino Del Sur off-ramp and came to rest in ice plants. Police then took the driver into custody.
Police told ABC 10News a red hooded sweatshirt, gloves, and what looked like a ski mask were recovered by officers. A sledgehammer was found in the car after further inspection.
The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Robert Abduljabar Coleman, was arrested in connection with the three break-ins, as well as a felony warrant, SDPD officials said.
Police did not confirm if Coleman is linked to a series of November break-ins in the Tierrasanta area in which a sledgehammer was used.
