An unknown number of suspects escaped police on foot after stealing three cars and at least $4,000 worth of tires and rims from three other vehicles across the city between 5 p.m. Thursday and 4:30 a.m. Friday, police said.

The suspects drove by officers along the 6600 block of Princevalle Street about 4:30 a.m. Friday as officers interviewed a resident whose car the suspects allegedly stole earlier that morning. As police pursued the car, the suspects ditched the vehicle fewer than 500 feet away, near Victoria and Thames drives - where two other stolen vehicles sat parked - and fled on foot. Officers were unable to locate the suspects, but have leads on them, Sgt. Jim Gillio said.

"We're not sure if the three cars were stolen by the same guys, but there's probably a connection there," Gillio said.

The suspects did not use weapons during their alleged thefts, and police would not say how many suspects they were searching for.

Gang attack

In a separate, gang-related incident about 1 a.m. June 14, a 25-year-old male called police after four to five adult Hispanic males in their early 20s attacked him with their hands and feet near Chestnut Street and Murray Avenue, police said. Gillio would not say how, exactly, the incident was gang-related, but he said it was connected with an earlier violent incident with gang ties that investigators are looking into. The suspects stole the victim's wallet, which included and Mexican consulate ID card and $240, police said.

Auto shop burglarized

Batchelder's Auto Repair near the auto mall along U.S. 101 in south Gilroy lost about $54,760, police said.

Between 10 a.m. Saturday and 6:35 p.m. Sunday, an unknown number of suspects cut through the sheet metal wall separating the business' rear from the outdoors. Once inside, they stole a safe containing $9,000 in cash, $40,000 in miscellaneous bonds, and dozens of checks, tax documents and credit statements, police said.

The auto shop lacked video or audio surveillance, police said. Despite the suspects' apparent knowledge of the building's layout, Gillio said there was no indication that the unknown number of suspects had ties to the business.