New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: burglary

The Garden Grove police arrested a cat burglary suspect

Posted on April 14, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Garden Grove 1 Comment

On 4/12/2021 a cat burglary occurred at the 10240 block of Trask Ave. Garden Grove police officers were able to obtain surveillance showing a suspect at the scene.

On 4/13/2021 the same suspect burglarized a home on the 11500 block of Daniel St. and was again observed on surveillance video.

During the investigation, Property Crimes detectives were able to identify the suspect to be Marcos Dejesus.

On today’s date, detectives located Dejesus and took him into custody without incident. He was later booked into Orange County Jail.

Dejesus was also in possession of some stolen items from the above mentioned burglary, at the time of arrest.

Burglar arrested in Tustin with help from a live feed video camera

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Tustin 8 Comments

Daniel Elizondo thought he might get away with breaking into a business in Tustin. However his image was captured by video surveillance cameras that happened to have a live feed. The cameras caught him breaking into the business and the business owner was able to contact the Tustin Police as the crime was in progress.

After being notified of the burglary, Tustin Police officers arrived on the scene and surrounded the involved business.

Elizondo was immediately detained by Tustin Police Officers as he exited the business. He was arrested for burglary and a felony ADW warrant. Elizondo was booked into the O.C. Central Jail.

The Tustin police arrested a residential burglary suspect

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Tustin Leave a comment

In January, the Tustin Police Department investigated a residential burglary in the Old Town Tustin area.

Surveillance video showed the suspect, Santos Diaz, trespass onto the property and enter it.

Several items were taken from the residence.

Through a combined effort from Patrol, CSI, Detectives, and GRADE, the suspect was identified and arrested.

Santos Diaz was booked into jail for residential burglary and prowling.

The SAPD is looking for burglars who targeted the Bowers Museum

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Between 12/24/2020 and 01/18/2021, the Bowers Museum was the victim of four commercial burglaries. During three of the incidents, large metal freight containers and a shed on the property were burglarized.

Surveillance footage captured several unknown suspects climbing over the wall and locked fence, using a bolt cutter and an electric grinder to force entry into the containers.

Numerous power/hand tools, valued at approximately $5000 and miscellaneous items from the gift shop valued at approximately $3000 were taken.

Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of these suspects is asked to contact Detective Castro at (714) 245-8345 or ACastro@santa-ana.org.

The SAPD is looking for a burglar who stole beauty products from a salon

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

On October 27, 2020, at approximately 4:20 AM, a wanted suspect utilized an unknown object to shatter a glass window to the business and make entry. Once inside, the suspect proceeded to fill a trashcan with approximately $1,500 worth of beauty products. The suspect was seen entering a dark colored SUV occupied by two other unknown individuals.

Location: 2614 S. Bristol Street – Salon Marbella

Anyone with information of the identity/whereabouts of the suspect is asked to please contact Detective Garcia at (714) 245-8732 or JGarcia@santa-ana.org

Costa Mesa burglary suspects caught red-handed

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Editor Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime 6 Comments

On Tuesday, at approximately 5 a.m., a witness observed and reported two subjects forcing open a garage door at a complex in Costa Mesa. The suspects were described as wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts.

As Costa Mesa police officers arrived, they saw a black Dodge station wagon leaving the complex. Officers stopped the vehicle, which was occupied by two males wearing dark sweatshirts.

The person who reported the burglary returned to the scene and identified one of the suspects and the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle revealed stolen property taken from the garage. Officers recovered a skateboard, electronic devices, a bank check, photographs, and other personal effects.

Juan Zeledon, 37, Anaheim, and Raymond Gonzales, 36, Garden Grove, were then arrested and booked for burglary.

The personal items were identified and returned to the rightful owners.

The Garden Grove police are looking for a commercial burglary suspect

Posted on October 18, 2020 by Editor Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

On Monday, October 5, 2020, Garden Grove Police Department officers responded to the Mobil Mart at 12422 Valley View St. regarding a burglary that had just occurred.

The suspect was able to break into the closed business, then leave in an unknown direction.

PERSON OF INTEREST: male, Asian or Hispanic, 20-25 years old, 160-175 lbs, tattoos on both arms.

Anyone with information on the incident, or this person’s identity and whereabouts, is asked to call Detective Holloway at 714-741-5827.

Santa Ana commercial burglary suspect arrested in Tustin

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD, Tustin Leave a comment

A commercial burglary suspect who accessed the storage yard of the Saf-T-Co Supply Inc. warehouse, located at 1300 E. Normandy Place, in Santa Ana, and stole several tools with an estimated value of approximately $1,400.00, is now under arrest courtesy of the Tustin Police Department.

The suspect, who has not been identified by name, was arrested in Tustin on a different criminal charge unrelated to the Santa Ana case..

Anyone with additional information on the suspect is asked to please contact Detective Garcia at (714) 245-8732 or JGarcia@santa-ana.org.

The SAPD is searching for a commercial burglary suspect

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

On August 29, 2020, at approximately 6 PM, the wanted suspect accessed the storage yard of the Saf-T-Co Supply Inc. warehouse, located at 1300 E. Normandy Place, in Santa Ana.

While walking through the yard, the suspect located an open window to the building, which he used to make entry. Once inside, the suspect ransacked the warehouse and stole several tools with an estimated value of approximately $1,400.00.

Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of the wanted suspect is asked to please contact Detective Garcia at (714) 245-8732 or JGarcia@santa-ana.org.

Former O.C. Sheriff’s Deputy charged with stealing guns and burglarizing the home of a dead man

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy has been charged with multiple felonies in connection with breaking into the Yorba Linda home of a man he found dead during a welfare check. The 12-year veteran was captured on home surveillance video returning to the home several times, including once while on duty and wearing his Sheriff’s uniform, and taking guns and other items from the home.

Steve Hortz, 42, of San Dimas, has been charged with three felony counts of second degree burglary and two felony counts of grand theft of a firearm in connection with breaking into the deceased man’s Yorba Linda home.

Hortz is scheduled to be arraigned on October 13, 2020 at the West Justice Center in Department in W3 at 8:30 a.m. He faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in state prison if convicted on all charges. Hortz resigned in lieu of termination effective September 30, 2020.

Hortz responded along with two other Sheriff’s Department employees to a home on Via Angelina Drive in Yorba Linda on July 20, 2020 to conduct a welfare check. The homeowner was found deceased of what was later determined to be natural causes.

Hortz is accused of returning to the home in uniform on July 27, 2020 and breaking into the home while he was on duty. He is also accused of returning to the home on two more occasions – on August 10, 2020 and August 16, 2020 – shortly before he was scheduled to work and stealing items from the home, including a total of 15 firearms.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation after the probate attorney handling the deceased homeowner’s estate reported that a law enforcement officer may have stolen items from the home.

Hortz was arrested on September 10, 2020 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“The failure of a single law enforcement officer to live up to his or her oath does not just tarnish that officer’s badge, it tarnishes the badge of the hundreds of thousands of honorable law enforcement officers who work day in and day out to protect and serve,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “When we call on law enforcement officers for help, we expect that they answer that call for help with the purest intentions to help those in need, not as an opportunity to scope out the situation in order to return later and victimize the very people they are sworn to protect.”

Deputy District Attorney Laila Nikaien of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

Convict arrested for a commercial burglary in Fountain Valley

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana Leave a comment

On 09-07-20, between the hours of 9:30 AM and 1:50 PM, a commercial burglary occurred at a business in Fountain Valley.

The Fountain Valley Police Department (FVPD) investigated the burglary and determined an unknown suspect had used a pry tool to force entry into the closed business. Once inside, the suspect rummaged through the interior and stole property, including two I-pads.

On 09-07-20 at approximately 3:30 PM, a concerned citizen called FVPD to report a suspicious subject who was looking into vehicles in the parking lot of a Hotel in Fountain Valley.

FVPD Officers arrived on scene and located Ricardo Altamirano, a 27 year old resident of San Jacinto, as he was hiding in some bushes. A records check of Altamirano revealed he had numerous prior arrests and convictions for theft and narcotics related offenses. A search of Altamirano’s property revealed he was in possession of burglary tools and two I-pads.

FVPD Officers conferred with Detectives, Police Services Officers, the victim, the citizen who called FVPD and reviewed the physical evidence and confirmed the two I-pads in Altamirano’s possession were the I-pads stolen hours earlier and the burglary tools in his possession were the same tools used during the commission of that crime.

Altamirano was arrested for PC 459-Burglary, PC 466-Possession of burglary tools, and PC 496(a)-Possession of stolen property. FVPD returned the stolen property to the burglary victims and booked Altamirano into Orange County Jail.

The FVPD is thankful for our strong community partnership and specifically to the citizen who reported this suspicious subject. This arrest and investigation serves as a great reminder “if you see something, say something.” (20-29412)

O.C. Deputy Sheriff arrested for suspected burglary of a dead elderly man’s residence

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Sept. 10, 2020): Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Hortz has been booked into jail on suspicion of burglary.

The deputy, a 12-year veteran of the Department, responded to a call for service on July 20, 2020 at a Yorba Linda residence regarding a man in his 70s who died from apparent natural causes. On September 9, the Department was contacted by an attorney representing the family estate who reported items missing from the residence. The attorney provided home surveillance video that captured the deputy making unauthorized entrance to the residence on at least three separate occasions and exiting with stolen property.

In the first incident, the deputy returned to the residence on July 27. While in uniform, he broke into the unoccupied residence through the rear and left a short time later. It is unclear whether a theft occurred at that time.

The deputy returned to the residence in the early morning on August 10 and August 16 while in civilian clothes and removed items including weapon safes, ceiling fans, and cases containing unknown items. It is believed the home was unoccupied.

Upon learning of the burglaries, the Department launched an immediate investigation. The deputy was arrested the morning of September 10, 2020 and has been booked into the Santa Ana Jail on suspicion of burglary. He was also placed on administrative leave, and the Department will investigate prior calls handled by the deputy to determine if similar unreported instances have occurred.

“The suspected criminal actions of this deputy are a violation of public trust, are inexcusable and intolerable,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “This deputy will be held accountable through a swift and thorough process including a full criminal and internal administrative investigation.

“These actions undermine the good work done every day by the men and women of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. We have proudly served the community of Yorba Linda since 2013. As your Sheriff, I want you to know that these criminal actions by a member of my staff will not be tolerated and are not indicative of the service we provide to Yorba Linda, or any other contract city.

“I will hold accountable deputies who do not honor the oath they swore to uphold. It is imperative that we do everything in our power to ensure that the men and women who have the privilege to wear the badge humbly recognize the responsibility entrusted to them as a member of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.”

Burglar who targeted a medical group arrested in Irvine

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Irvine 2 Comments

Fountain Valley, July 30 – On July 22, 2020, Fountain Valley Police Department Officers responded to Memorial Care, located in the 17900 Block of Brookhurst Street, where they took a report reference a commercial burglary.

The initial investigation revealed a male suspect, later identified as Mitchell Starbuck, a 36-year-old resident of Huntington Beach, pried a door leading to the IT Department.

Once inside, Starbuck ransacked the interior and stole the following: 44 Apple iPad Pro’s, 2 Apple MacBook’s, 2 Apple iPhones, and several other electronics valued at over $50,000.

A records search revealed Starbuck was on active parole and had an outstanding no bail warrant.

On July 28, 2020, FVPD Detectives located Starbuck in the City of Irvine while driving the same vehicle used in the commission of the burglary.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, FVPD Detectives located 32 of the stolen iPads, MacBook’s, iPhones, and several other stolen electronics all belonging to Memorial Care.

The recovered items in the vehicle were valued in excess of $41,000.

Starbuck was arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail for numerous felony charges including commercial burglary, grand theft, conspiracy, possession of stolen property, and the no bail warrant. (DR# 20-23494).

Burglary suspects who targeted O.C. homes arrested in multi county sweep

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Editor Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Irvine, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Five men accused of running a multi-county burglary ring responsible for stealing $1.9 million in designer watches and purses, jewelry, guns, purses, and cash in 44 residential burglaries in Orange and San Bernardino counties were arrested by SWAT teams on Friday.

The District Attorney’s AB109 Task Force, along with the Fullerton, Anaheim, and Buena Park Police Departments, the Orange Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, executed simultaneous search warrants on Friday, May 15, 2020 in Los Angeles County.

Jurandir Endnilson Penate, 24, Erick Daniel Soria, 27, Alvaro Ramos, 37, Eugene Yi, 35, and Sergio Soto, 33, all of Los Angeles, were arrested in the multi-agency operation.

Felony criminal charges were filed against the five defendants Monday, May 18, 2020 in connection with the rash of burglaries that began in Chino Hills in August 2019 and continued in Fullerton, Anaheim Hills, Villa Park, Lake Forest, Yorba Linda, Buena Park, and Irvine through February. Four of the burglaries occurred when residents were home.

“This case underscores law enforcement’s resolve to effectively collaborate, across jurisdictions, to bring criminals to justice,” said Fullerton Police Chief Bob Dunn, who spoke at a Monday morning press conference at the District Attorney’s Office to announce the arrests.

Orange County Assistant Sheriff Jeff Hallock, Buena Park Police Chief Corey Sianez, Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros, Orange County District Attorney Bureau of Investigation Chief Paul Walters, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Galloway of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were also in attendance at Monday’s announcement.

Soria, who is currently on parole for residential burglary, is facing 83 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted on all charges. Soto, is a third striker with prior convictions for residential burglaries and assault with a deadly weapon, is facing 35 years to life in state prison if convicted on all charges. Ramos, who is currently on parole for residential burglary and evading police, is facing 125 years in state prison if convicted on all charges.

Yi, who has one prior strike for a 2005 great bodily injury conviction, is facing 19 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted on all charges. Penate is facing 55 years and 4 months in state prison if convicted on all charges.

“Ongoing efforts to decriminalize felonies and release state prisoners and jail inmates back into our communities has resulted in an increase in property crime. These are the people who are sneaking into our backyards to steal designer purses, shoes, cash, and guns,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “This case exemplifies why I started the AB109 Crime Impact Task Force last year to identify parolees who commit new crimes and assist police agencies in their investigations to get these criminals off the streets and back in prison where they belong.”

In order to support the efforts of probation which is now responsible for supervising AB109ers and to further protect the residents of Orange County, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office created a dedicated task force to identify and arrest AB 109ers who commit new crimes.

The AB 109 Crime Impact Task Force, which is housed at the Santa Ana Police Department, is made up of five District Attorney Investigators, one Santa Ana Police Officer, one Orange County Probation Officer, and an Investigative Assistant and a Research Analyst from the District Attorney’s Office.

Since July 2019, the AB 109 Task Force has arrested 128 AB109ers on new crimes, including five attempted murder suspects, four stolen car suspects, and 73 suspects arrested on felonies.

The task force has done 5,840 compliance and reporting checks on AB 109ers and revoked Post Release Community Supervision on 71 convicted felons since July 2019.

The AB 109 Task Force has located wanted subjects in other states, and coordinated their arrests and extradition back to Orange County to face charges.

Penate, Soto, Soria, Yi and Ramos are all being held on no bail at the Orange County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation.

The SAPD is searching for a burglary and narcotics suspect

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Wanted Suspect Alejandro Barajas, 29-years-old, is a person of interest in a commercial burglary that occurred on the 500 block of South Lyon Street in 2019.

Barajas currently has two outstanding bench warrants for narcotics and commercial burglary from two other Orange County law enforcement agencies.

WANTED SUSPECT: Alejandro Montiel Barajas (29)

DESCRIPTION: Male, Hispanic, 5’10”, 210 lbs., Black Hair, Brown Eyes

Anyone with information on Barajas’ whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Lim at (714) 245-8417 or SLim@santa-ana.org