LOS ANGELES -- The Latest on a car theft suspect perched on a crane in Los Angeles harbour (all times local):
8.30pm
A suspected car thief has been perched high atop a Port of Los Angeles loading crane for well over an hour as police wait below, and he has now taken off all his clothes.
The LAPD says the man is suspected of stealing an SUV from a San Bernardino car dealership Wednesday. Police chased him to the loading dock where he hiked up the stairs to the top of the crane about 43 metres above the ground and ocean.
He took off his shirt and shoes after ascending the crane, and minutes later took off his pants.
At times he walks around or dangles a leg over the side of the narrow arm.
Police haven't tried to reach the man out of concern he might slip or jump.
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6.36pm
A man who led authorities on a chase in a stolen car is perched on the arm of a loading crane at the Port of Los Angeles.
Police say an SUV reported stolen from a dealership in San Bernardino was spotted in Los Angeles shortly after 3pm.
During an hours-long chase, the car swerved at high speed through freeway traffic in L.A. and Long Beach, sometimes crossing into oncoming lanes.
The car drove into a terminal, circling back and forth under giant loading cranes and next to a docked ship before the driver fled and climbed stairs to the top of the crane.
He broke into the crane cab, came out, walked to the end of the crane over water, then returned and is sitting on a crane arm.
The car chase:
Video: Pursuit driver in Lakers jersey goes in wild circles at Port of LA before climbing onto crane. Watch live: https://t.co/VS3HHaKWmd pic.twitter.com/33DGbofZA4
— KTLA (@KTLA) August 17, 2017
(Video Twitter/@KTLA)
Dancing on the crane:
WATCH LIVE: Pursuit suspect in a #Kobe jersey sitting 100s of feet in the air on a crane. https://t.co/PCRN9qM70O pic.twitter.com/AqePQfGi0r
— #NBC7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) August 17, 2017
(Video Twitter/@nbcsandiego)
Breaking into the crane cab:
Driver in pursuit breaks into a room atop a crane unit, trying to hide at Port of Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/mwdcxGLSac
— Michelle Tuzee (@abc7michelle) August 17, 2017
(Video Twitter/@abc7michelle)
