THREE SUSPECTS were arrested Thursday in Huntington Beach during a robbery attempt (Shutterstock).

Three suspects who police believe are are part of area-wide criminal ring were arrested Thursday by Huntington Beach police.

THREE SUSPECTS arrested in Huntington Beach in an robbery attempt Thursday (HPD photos).

According to Jennifer Carey, public information officer for the HBPD, the department has been engaged in working with local businesses to create “proactive theft prevention measures.”

The effort resulted in the arrests of:

• Aaron Duran, 22, of Las Vegas
• Richard Hamilton, 22, of Alameda and
• Kendrick West, 26, of Vallejo.

Detectives were tipped by a local business of a potential theft and staked out the area, with the HB-1 helicopter looking on from above.

At about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, officers in the helicopter spotted a man stealing thousands of dollars in cash and valuables from a vehicle in the businesses’ parking lot. Officers approached the suspect, who jumped into a waiting vehicle, which drove away “at a high rate of speed.”

HB-1 followed and the short chase ended with the automobile crashing near Edinger Avenue and Fortuna Lane. Three occupants of the vehicle sought to flee on foot, but were all arrested without injury or incident.

The three were charged with a variety of crimes, including grand theft, resisting arrest and obstructing an officer.

“Detectives believe that all three suspects are a part of a criminal organization with ties to other burglaries and thefts throughout Southern California,” according to Carey.