On July 2, 2006, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Santa Monica Police officers arrested Herbert Orlando Allen following a brief foot chase in the 2400 block of Broadway.  Allen, who matched the description of a burglary suspect previously observed on surveillance video, was seen bicycling away from an area where there had been a rash of commercial burglaries.  As the officers gave chase, they were informed that a commercial burglary alarm had been activated at a nearby bicycle shop.  When Allen was caught and arrested, it was determined that the bicycle he was riding had just been stolen from the bicycle shop.

Investigative follow up by Santa Monica detectives indicates that Allen, who is on parole for previous burglary and theft convictions, is responsible for at least 16 commercial burglaries occurring in Santa Monica between April 30, 2006 and July 2, 2006.  

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has filed five counts against Allen for commercial burglary.  As a result of Allen’s arrest by the Santa Monica Police Department working with the Los Angeles Police Department has been able to link Allen to at least ten similar burglaries occurring in the West Los Angeles area.