Search in Puyallup ends although two armed burglars not yet found

A search for two armed burglary suspects Friday afternoon prompted the lockdown of Puyallup High School and a warning by police that residents should remain inside with doors locked.

Police got a call at 1:30 p.m. about a burglary in progress on Ninth Street Southwest, Capt. Scott Engle said. The burglars fled in a U-Haul before officers could get to the scene of the crime.

The burglars crashed their truck into an antique car and a backyard fence in the 1300 block of West Pioneer Avenue and ran away without their stolen goods, he said.

“Basically, the suspects tried to drive through the backyard and couldn’t get out,” Engle said.

As the two men ran away, several witnesses told police they saw a handgun, Engle said.

The men shed their outerwear and hats while police searched for them but were thought to still be armed, police said.

Several streets were closed earlier during the search, which began about 2 p.m., including the 1400 block of West Pioneer Avenue and the 1200 block of West Main Avenue.

Although school was not in session due to a teacher training day, Puyallup High was put into lockdown during the search.

Although Tacoma and Lakewood police canine units and the KIRO news helicopter were involved in the search, the men jumped fences and got away, Engle said.

The department announced at 3:20 p.m. that the search was over and that the burglars had not been found.

Police posted photos of the men to Twitter and Facebook.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Search in Puyallup ends although two armed burglars not yet found."