By City News Service
Full Article: https://abc7.com/amp/orange-county-burglary-ring-arrests-oc/14184153/
Date: December 14, 2023
“Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer Thursday issued a stern warning to thieves targeting Orange County as they discussed details of a crackdown on a burglary ring they say was responsible for nearly three dozen break-ins.
Nine suspects were rounded up in a sweep on Wednesday, with law enforcement still seeking 11 more suspects. Prosecutors have charged 20, including five juveniles, in connection with a burglary ring tied to 34 break- ins across the county, with an estimated loss of about $500,000 in cash, weapons and valuables.
Barnes told reporters it was the result of “months of hard work,” starting in September when authorities began working a case involving three residential burglaries, two in unincorporated Santa Ana and one in Yorba Linda. That prompted a team of investigators to work on building a bigger case, Barnes said.
Fullerton police have been investigating 19 burglaries, with the rest being handled by sheriff’s deputies, Barnes said.
The 20 defendants have ties to Los Angeles-based gangs, Barnes and Spitzer said.
The thieves are “organized” and have utilize sophisticated methods involving monitoring social media messages to see who is out of town, surveillance of affluent homes to get patterns of coming and going of residents and even breaking in through a second-floor balcony to avoid security system motion detectors, Barnes said.
Spitzer said the gangs are recruiting juveniles to help with the heists because they tend to face lesser punishment from the system because of their age.
During the sweep this week, law enforcement recovered seven guns, two of which were stolen, multiple high-capacity magazines and $40,000 in cash, jewelry and handbags, Barnes said.
He said he hopes residents “can sleep a little better” knowing the thieves were arrested.
“To the criminals associated with these crews, we will find you, we will arrest you,” Barnes said. “And you will do your time in Orange County… You’re not going to get out next week.”
The sheriff reminded residents to make sure they lock all their doors and windows, consider padlocking side gates, which are popular points of entry for thieves, and ensuring their homes are well lit. He added that putting lights on a timer and installing a security system with cameras will also help steer thieves away….”
