University police arrested two men early Sunday morning in connection with the burglary of a Westwood apartment.
Police officers on foot patrol spotted Michael Bender, 19, and Christian Bridges, 18, walking in the North Village at about 1:30 a.m., carrying large backpacks, said Nancy Greenstein, spokeswoman for UCPD. The officers made eye contact with Bridges and Bender, and the two men threw the backpacks behind a tree and ran away.
The officers recovered the backpacks and found several electronic devices and other stolen property inside, Greenstein said. They tracked down Bender and Bridges and arrested them at about 3 a.m. in the alleyway next to In-N-Out on Gayley Avenue, she added.
UCPD returned the stolen property to its owners, whose apartment on Veteran Avenue was broken into. At least three out of four of the people whose belongings were stolen are UCLA students, Greenstein said.
Bender and Bridges are currently being held on $50,000 bail each in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. Their court date is set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the LAX Municipal Court.
Compiled by Yael Levin, Bruin senior staff.