Seven people suspected in a home invasion robbery in Woodland Hills ended up spread-eagled on the pavement as they were taken into custody Friday afternoon on the 405 Freeway in Westchester.
The robbery was reported about 2:10 p.m. in the 23300 block of Ladrillo Street, between Woodlake Avenue and Valley Circle Boulevard, according to Los Angeles Police Department Officer Tony Im.
Officers caught up with the suspected robbers on the freeway and stopped the white SUV in which they fled. Southbound traffic was halted between Howard Hughes Parkway and La Tijera Boulevard and the seven suspects were ordered out of the vehicle and made to get face down in freeway lanes, their arms and legs splayed to their sides before being taken into custody.
The freeway closure backed up traffic to Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles, but all lanes were reopened about 2:30 p.m.
There were no immediate reports of anyone being injured in the home invasion, Im said, but NBCLA reported that a woman was home alone with her three young children when suspects entered her residence and one pointed a gun at her.
Police told the station the suspects took the woman's cellphone, which had a tracking app that helped officers track down the alleged culprits.
