Three arrested in connection with organized burglary ring in Orange County
Three suspects believed to be connected to an organized crime ring were arrested in Irvine.
After a series of residential burglaries in the Turtle Rock and Shady Canyon neighborhoods, Irvine police officers conducted surveillance in the area.
On Friday at around 6:50 p.m. near Bommer Canyon, an officer spotted a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot.
The officer stopped the vehicle as it was pulling away from the lot. Police said the three men inside “were not from the area and had no reason to be in Irvine.”
The officer found several items suspected to be burglary tools in the car including pet deterrent, shoe covers, gloves, and masks.
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The men were arrested on charges of suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, providing false information to a police officer and possession of burglary tools.
They were identified as Ricardo Navarete-Loyola, 19, Julio Cordova-Martinez, 55, and Leopoldo Jara-Araya, 57. All three men are Chilean nationals, authorities said.
“I’m proud of the men and women of the Irvine Police Department and all the work they do to keep our community safe,” said Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent. “This arrest is just one example of the great police work happening daily in our city and should serve as a warning to anyone looking to victimize our residents, businesses, and visitors: Don’t commit crime in Irvine.”
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Ryan Nigg at 949-724-7183 or email rnigg@cityofirvine.org.
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