Alleged burglars have West Valley City cops running around

Police chased two different burglar suspects who tried to make a run for it but were caught and booked into jail.

The first burglar hit Sunday night when a man wearing a motorcycle helmet, black nomex swat hood, tight ski pants, a pair of moon boots, and a ski jacket broke into a mobile home near 2900 South and 2500 West, said West Valley Police Lt. Dalan Taylor.

When a neighbor saw the man breaking in and called police, the man noticed and took off, jumping over two fences and out of the mobile home park, Taylor said. Police bloodhounds tracked the man down a couple blocks away.

"He didn't take anything," Taylor said. "That house was burglarized five hours earlier. We think it was him coming back to take more."

Mitchell Bennett, 45, was booked into Salt Lake County jail for investigation of residential burglary, criminal mischief and drug paraphernalia.

The second burglar allegedly broke into a car in Kearns. The car's owner heard the vehicle alarm and came out just as the car stereo was being stolen, police said.

The man took off on a bike with the victim following behind in his car, Taylor said. The victim's car hit the man's bicycle near 4700 South and 4225 West, but when police arrived, the man, who was injured, took off on foot heading north. He jumped a few fences with police in pursuit, but when he tried to confront cops he was Tasered, Taylor said.

Ricardo Espinoza, 34, was booked into Salt Lake County Jail but later released.

The Salt Lake Sheriff's Office will handle any further investigations.

— Lana Groves