Man arrested after stealing two cars & evading police

A cat burglar was arrested Wednesday morning after stealing two cars and leading police on separate pursuits. Kenneth Burns of Cathedral City, 21, is facing multiple charges of theft stemming from the early morning crime spree.

According to a release from the Palm Desert Police Department, officers saw a stolen vehicle near Country Club Drive and Portola Avenue at about 3 a.m. Wednesday. They tried to pull over the suspect but he sped off, evading police.

The suspect ended up crashing the vehicle about 20 minutes later near Highway 111 and Country Club Drive. He was gone by the time the Rancho Mirage Police Department was called to assist with the investigation.

Officers caught up with Kenneth Burns after a cat burglary was reported around 6:20 a.m. at a home near Vista Loma Drive and Mirage Cove Drive in Rancho Mirage. The victim said her 2013 Mercedes and other property was taken from her house while she was sleeping.

The car had LoJack so police were able to track its location to Cathedral City. They saw Burns inside the car but he drove away once again when officers tried to pull him over.

Burns was driving near 30th Avenue and Rattler Road when the vehicle became inoperable. He ran from the scene but police were able to take him into custody soon after.

The Palm Desert Burglary Suppression Unit took over the investigation and deputies determined Burns was the driver of the first stolen vehicle that fled from officers and eventually crashed. They also found evidence from the burglary.

Burns was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio on charges of first degree burglary, possession of stolen property and two vehicle thefts. He’s being held on no-bail because he had two warrants issued for his arrest; a felony drug warrant and parolee at-large warrant.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Deputy Aldrich with the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1623.