Local News In Brief : Woman Arrested in Drive-Through Heists

Awoman who allegedly attempted to rob eight drive-through restaurants in the San Fernando Valley and Glendale was arrested Wednesday night after a 20-minute, 12-mile chase that ended in La Crescenta, Burbank police said.

Cynthia Lee Fields, 28, was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery of four of the restaurants and on suspicion of robbery of the other four. All eight crimes took place Tuesday and Wednesday, police said.

Fields was being held at Sybil Brand Institute in Los Angeles.

Lt. Duane Dow said the robbery spree began Tuesday at a Burger King in Burbank. Fields drove up to the window, feigned having a handgun by wielding an object covered by a dark handkerchief, and demanded money, Dow said.

At four of the restaurants, employees moved from the window and Fields drove off without obtaining any money, Dow said. At four others, she was handed an undisclosed amount of cash, he said.

Dow said she was seen by police as she left a Carl’s Jr. in Burbank. Police chased her at high speeds through Glendale, Dow said, and then she turned into a dead-end street in La Crescenta. She fled on foot but was stopped by a Burbank police dog, which bit her in the hands and legs, police said.

Police Sgt. Tom Hoefel said Fields told investigators that she robbed the restaurants to support a cocaine habit.