Police arrest Torrance tire slashing, theft suspects

TORRANCE, Calif. (FOX 11) - A trio of suspects believed to be involved in a flat tire scheme in Torrance has been arrested following a multi-agency operation.

Torrance police say Hawthorne residents 39-year-old Omar Baltazar, 39-year-old Monica Diaz-Sanchez and 18-year-old Sandra Baltazar-Diaz were taken into custody on Feb. 25, 2019, and recovered $80,000 of suspected stolen money.

Detectives were investigating two separate cases that occurred in mid-February which involved victims being followed from banks, being distracted by a suspect who flattened their tire, and having their money stolen from their car.

Torrance police worked with the Glendale Police Department and other agencies in South Bay to identify the suspects in this criminal investigation. Authorities believe all three suspects are responsible for multiple crimes within Southern California and other states.