On January 4, 2026, the Newport Beach Police Department received a call for suspicious activity at a home under construction in the Harbor Ridge area.
The NBPD’s Drone 1 arrived on the scene first and observed three male suspects inside the residence.
Police officers arrived shortly after and located three suspects inside the secured property.
The individuals exited the property and were safely detained without incident.
Following an investigation, the suspects were arrested for residential burglary and booked at the NBPD Jail.
In the January 4, 2026, incident in Newport Beach, the three suspects face severe penalties under California law for First-Degree Residential Burglary (Penal Code § 459).
Because the crime involved an “inhabited” dwelling—which under California law includes homes currently under construction if they are intended for habitation—the following penalties apply:
Criminal Penalties
- State Prison Sentence: Conviction of first-degree burglary is always a felony, punishable by two, four, or six years in California state prison.
- Fines: Suspects can be fined up to $10,000.
- Mandatory Prison Time: Judges are generally prohibited from granting probation for residential burglary except in “unusual cases” where the interests of justice are served. Most offenders must serve a prison sentence.
- Sentencing Credit Limits: First-degree burglary is often classified as a “serious” or “violent” felony. If victims were present or if specific conditions are met, defendants may be required to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
The “Three Strikes” Law
- Strike Offense: Residential burglary counts as a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law.
- Future Enhancements:
- Second Strike: If any of these suspects have a prior strike, their sentence for this burglary could be doubled.
- Third Strike: If a suspect has two or more prior strikes, they could face a mandatory minimum of 25 years to life in prison.
Case-Specific Details
- Drone 1 Intervention: The use of the Newport Beach Police Department’s Drone 1 provided real-time surveillance that allowed officers to locate and safely detain the suspects within the secured property.
- Booking: All three male suspects were booked at the Newport Beach Police Department Jail immediately following the investigation.