Last month, a theft from a vehicle occurred on White Road, according to the Irvine Police Department.
The suspects were later videotaped by surveillance cameras using stolen credit cards to purchase items at a store.
The suspects are a man and a woman. The IPD released pictures of them.
The woman was standing near glass doors on a tiled floor and appeared to be inside a retail store. She appears to be white. Her face has manly features. She was wearing a white long-sleeve crop top that was stretched to its limits and black ripped jeans, paired with black-and-white checkered slip-on shoes. She carried a large brown checkered handbag and held a smartphone in one hand, with a wristwatch or bracelet visible on the left wrist.
The male suspect appeared to be inside a store. He was wearing a black short-sleeve t-shirt and tan knee-length shorts. He had on light-colored athletic shoes and a gray baseball cap with a black-and-white sports logo on the front. The suspect appears to have tattoos on both forearms and was holding snack items in one hand while walking down an aisle lined with various products. He was obese and probably should not have been eating those snacks.
If you recognize either suspect, please contact Detective Mena at amena@cityofirvine.org.
Please remember to lock your vehicles and set up your credit card text notifications to alert you of fraudulent charges.
Orange County Crime Statistics
In 2026, crime trends in Orange County and Irvine indicate that while these areas remain significantly safer than state and national averages, property crimes like vehicle theft and fraud continue to be the most frequent offenses.
Vehicle Theft Statistics
- Orange County Trends: Property crimes make up approximately 85% of all reported crimes in Orange County. In 2024 and 2025, motor vehicle theft rates remained near historic lows, sitting at approximately 250 incidents per 100,000 residents.
- Recent Declines: Statewide, vehicle thefts dropped by 13.1% in 2024, and Orange County specifically saw a 16% decrease in stolen vehicles during that period.
- Irvine Safety: Irvine is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the U.S. for its size. Mid-year data from the Irvine Police Department reported a 22% decrease in property crime year-over-year.
Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft
- Frequency: Credit card fraud was the most commonly reported type of identity theft in 2024 and 2025.
- Rising National Rates: Nationally, credit card fraud reports increased by 51% year-over-year in the first half of 2025.
- Theft Method: In 2025, only 8% of fraudulent charges involved physical theft of a lost or stolen card; the vast majority occurred through remote data breaches. However, the case on White Road illustrates the ongoing risk of using stolen physical cards for immediate “brick-and-mortar” transactions.
Comparative Risk
| Crime Category | Rate (per 100,000 in OC) | Trend (2024–2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Larceny (Theft) | ~1,380 | Steady/Declining |
| Burglary | ~300 | Declining |
| Auto Theft | ~250 | Significant Decline (-16%) |
| Violent Crime | ~338 | Near historic lows |
To help prevent these crimes, residents are encouraged to use the FTC Identity Theft Reporting Portal if their information is compromised and to monitor accounts via mobile alerts as recommended by the Irvine Police Department.
Penalties faced by the suspects
In California, suspects involved in vehicle theft and the subsequent fraudulent use of credit cards face penalties based on several potential charges, many of which are classified as “wobblers” (offenses that can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony).
The specific penalties for these acts in 2026 include:
- Auto Burglary (Penal Code 459): Entering a vehicle with the intent to commit theft is a second-degree burglary.
- Misdemeanor: Up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
- Felony: 16 months, two years, or three years in county jail.
- Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (Penal Code 484g): Using a stolen card to purchase items is prosecuted based on the value of the goods obtained.
- Value $950 or Less: Charged as petty theft (misdemeanor), punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
- Value Over $950: Charged as grand theft (wobbler), punishable by up to three years in prison.
- Identity Theft (Penal Code 530.5): Willfully obtaining and using someone else’s personal identifying information for an unlawful purpose is a wobbler offense.
- Misdemeanor: Up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.
- Felony: Up to three years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- Grand Theft Auto (Penal Code 487(d)(1)): If the vehicle itself was stolen, this is typically charged as a felony.
- Felony: 16 months, two years, or three years in prison.
- Enhancements: An additional one to two years can be added if the vehicle’s value exceeds $65,000.