Burglary Reported at Babe's Pizza and Pasta in Cutten

Surveillance cameras and a responding deputy's quick area search cracked an early-morning burglary at Babe's Pizza & Pasta in Cutten, ending with a juvenile in handcuffs and a second suspect still on the loose.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a call at approximately 2:50 a.m. on March 11 reporting an individual inside the restaurant at 4015 Walnut Dr. While deputies were still en route, dispatch relayed a second alert: the restaurant's alarm company had independently reported an activation at the business. By the time deputies arrived, both suspects had already fled. The business owner was on scene to meet them.

Deputies pulled footage from the restaurant's interior surveillance system and obtained physical and clothing descriptions of two suspects. Armed with those descriptions, one deputy searched the surrounding area and spotted two individuals matching the profile at Redwood Fields. When the deputy moved to make contact, both subjects ran. A brief foot pursuit followed, and one, a 16-year-old male, was taken into custody. The second suspect was not located.

Based on physical evidence recovered at the scene, the 16-year-old was transported to Humboldt County Juvenile Hall and booked on five charges: felony vandalism under PC 594(b)(2), conspiracy to commit a crime under PC 182(a)(1), burglary under PC 459, grand theft under PC 487(a), and obstructing or resisting a peace officer under PC 148(a)(1).

The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about the break-in or the unidentified second suspect to call (707) 445-7251 or the department's Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.