Suspected mail thieves caught after short chase, crash

A man and woman wanted on suspicion of stealing mail on several prior occasions led police on a brief road chase through Carmel Valley on Thursday before getting into a crash and making a failed attempt to escape on foot.

An officer spotted a blue Ford Ranger involved in the postal thefts near State Route 56 and tried to pull it over about 11:45 a.m., according to San Diego police.

The young woman behind the wheel refused to yield and sped off through the neighborhood as officers gave chase, SDPD Sgt. Ray Battrick said.

A few minutes later, the truck careened off the roadway in the 11700 block of Carmel Creek Road and smashed into three parked vehicles before screeching to a halt. The two occupants then jumped out and ran off but were soon apprehended, Battrick said.

Richard Crisostomo, 35, and Dezirae Hamon, 19, were booked into county jail on suspicion of various charges, including mail theft and evading police.