Fri. Nov 15th, 2024

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Arrests Wanted Suspect In GTA & Felony Evading Investigation. Suspect Booked On Additional Charges Of Commercial Burglary

Arrested: Maurice Alexander Topps (42) Laguna Woods

Suspect Maurice Topps was taken into custody on 10/3/2016 while SAPD officers were investigating a computer theft he was involved in at the Santa Ana College Campus.

Based on information gathered during this investigation, to date, Maurice Topps has been identified in at least seven commercial burglaries in the cities of Santa Ana, Orange, and Anaheim. Additional burglaries are being investigated, as well as investigative leads for additional suspects involved in the burglaries.

Maurice Topps caught in action on Security Video
Maurice Topps caught in action on Security Video

The screenshot provided is from the 08/09/16 burglary committed in Santa Ana at the Banc Of California building located at 3 MacArthur Place. Detectives will be working with surrounding agencies to clear any additional burglaries that may have been committed by the suspect. It is believed that Topps may have been involved in as many as 40 commercial burglaries dating back to August.

Maurice Alexander Topps
Maurice Alexander Topps

The vehicle driven by Topps during the 9/15/2016 pursuit was taken during a burglary committed at St. Joseph Hospital in the City of Orange on 08/31/16. Topps stole the vehicle keys from the victim’s purse and fled the scene in her vehicle.

– ORIGINAL MESSAGE –

Wanted Suspect: Maurice Alexander Topps (42) Laguna Woods, Male Black, 6-0-medium build, bald, dark complexion. Summary: On 9-15-2016 at approximately 4:00PM, an officer observed a vehicle driving erratically in the area of the 55 freeway and Macarthur Blvd. The Officer ran the license plate which returned to a stolen vehicle out of the City of Orange. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued throughout several Orange County cities and into Laguna Woods, where suspect drove into a multi-level parking garage at Saddleback hospital. A perimeter was set up around the hospital and a search was conducted however the suspect was not located. The stolen vehicle was returned to its owner. Officers investigating the case located several items in the vehicle that helped them identify the driver of the stolen vehicle as Maurice Alexander Topps (42) Male Black, 6-0-medium build, bald, dark complexion. Topps was last known to reside in the City of Laguna Woods. The suspect is wanted for Vehicle Theft, Possession of Stolen Property and Felony Evading. Topps knows he is wanted by the police and is currently on probation Post Release Community Supervision. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of suspect Topps is asked to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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