Overnight car burglary in Pinecrest ends with chase and crash in Broward, police say
.jpeg "The driver of a BMW crashed early Sunday, May 24, 2026, during a chase, the Pinecrest Police Department said.")
One person was arrested and others escaped on foot early Sunday after they crashed during a police chase, the Pinecrest Police Department said.
A Pinecrest police officer was conducting a crime prevention detail around 2 a.m. when they spotted a suspicious gray BMW parked on the wrong side of the road with its lights turned off in a residential area near Southwest 66th Avenue.
The officer stayed nearby to watch the car and saw multiple people dressed in black clothing and ski masks run from the yard of a nearby home and enter the BMW, Pinecrest police said in a statement.
They had entered an unlocked vehicle parked outside the home, according to the preliminary investigation. The residence was occupied, but the residents were asleep and unaware.
As the officer tried to approach them, the driver intentionally reversed the BMW into the marked police car, crashing with it before fleeing at a high rate of speed, police said. The officer, who was not injured and not identified by police, initiated a pursuit.
The BMW headed north on the Palmetto Expressway, but an on-duty supervisor ended the chase after officers lost sight of the car near the Sunset Drive area, police said.
A short time later, the BMW crashed in Hollywood in Broward County, police said. One person was arrested, while additional people fled on foot. None of the people inside the vehicle were identified by police. Officers did not publicly identify the person who was arrested.
Investigators located the BMW’s registered owner, who is not cooperating with authorities, police said. The car was not reported stolen or rented. It remains an active investigation.
“This incident serves as an important reminder for residents to remain vigilant during holiday weekends,” Pinecrest police officials said in the statement. “Many families travel during Memorial Day weekend, leaving homes and vehicles vulnerable to opportunistic criminals. Residents are encouraged to lock their vehicles, remove valuables from plain view, activate exterior lighting and security cameras when available and report suspicious activity immediately.”
