Two burglary suspects allegedly crashed two vehicles into the Neiman Marcus and Louis Vuitton stores at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island and stole more than $100,000 in merchandise. However they were not able to enjoy their ill-gotten gains for long as they were arrested on Monday
Two more suspects remain at large, according to the Newport Beach police.
The police were notified at 3:45 a.m. on Monday morning by security guards at the outdoor shopping center regarding a commercial burglary in progress.
The police found that two separate vehicles were driven into the building on opposite sides of the structure through the entrance doors. The two stores are connected internally but both have doors to the outside parking lot area.
One vehicle was described as an older model Ford Explorer, while the other appeared to be a sedan or small SUV of an unknown make and model.
When the responding police officers arrived on scene, the suspects got into a third vehicle and sped off. Police officers then pursued them through a portion of Newport Beach and onto the 73 Freeway. CHP officers then joined in the freeway pursuit, following the suspect vehicle onto the 405 Freeway.
The suspects were seen throwing the stolen merchandise, which was mostly high-end Louis Vuitton handbags, from the vehicle as it headed from Orange County northward toward Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles police officers eventually intercepted the vehicle and detained two of the suspects, a man and a woman. However at least two other suspects took off on foot and were still at large on Tuesday.
Ahmad Rahmaan, 25, and Tylise Bell, 28, the two suspects who were arrested, are both from Los Angeles. They were taken back to Newport Beach, where they were booked on charges of commercial burglary and conspiracy to commit commercial burglary. Rahmaan was also charged with felony evading police officers.
Both suspects were being held in Orange County jail on $200,000 bail and had court appearances scheduled for Tuesday.
Police investigators are working with the stores’ loss prevention officers to inventory the stolen and discarded items, which are thought to have a collective value of $100,000.
The good news is that a majority of the stolen property was recovered by the officers.
All three vehicles were impounded and are being stored while the investigation is ongoing. It is not clear if the vehicles used to crash into the store entrances may have been stolen.
