Anaheim pair arrested on grand theft charges after a police pursuit in Irvine

Yesterday morning, police detectives were checking banks and spotted suspicious subjects possibly involved in fraudulent activity at a bank near Culver and Irvine Center Drive, according to the Irvine Police Department.

When detectives tried to stop the duo, they fled in their vehicle. After a short pursuit, the car stopped near Culver and Irvine Blvd.

A woman was immediately detained in the car. The other suspect ran from the car into a nearby shopping center. While the police officers were searching the area, they found him hiding in a dumpster.

Christian Margel, 22, of Anaheim, and Teresa Margel, 20, of Fullerton, were charged with grand theft, felony evasion, and resisting arrest. The two were booked at Orange County Jail.

The Irvine Police Department recently shared that their Investigations Bureau has been investigating a complex transnational fraud scheme where criminals steal Electric Benefit Transfers (EBT) funds shortly after they are deposited into victims’ accounts. This is why the police detectives were looking for suspects near the bank in question.

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Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions.

When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.