Resident’s tip leads to the arrest of several burglary suspects in north O.C.

On By art-pedroza

This post was originally published on this site

A Fullerton resident noticed a suspicious vehicle and two unfamiliar females walking around a neighbor’s house, which raised his suspicions, according to the Fullerton Police Department.

Photo Courtesy of the FPD

The resident immediately contacted the police, and officers were dispatched to the scene. Unfortunately, the vehicle had left before the officers arrived, but they continued to patrol the area and found a possible match at the intersection of S. Euclid and W. Hill.

Upon further investigation, the officers discovered that the vehicle was occupied by five individuals—four adults and one juvenile—and was linked to the burglary of a nearby residence.

As a result, the four adults were taken into custody and booked on charges including burglary and conspiracy. The juvenile presumably went to the OC Juvenile Hall while the other suspects likely ended up at the Orange County Jail.

The FPD thanks the resident who took the initiative to report what he saw, demonstrating the importance of looking out for your neighborhood.

In California, the penalties for residential burglary and conspiracy can be quite severe. Here’s a breakdown of each:

Residential Burglary

Residential burglary, also known as first-degree burglary, involves entering an inhabited dwelling with the intent to commit theft or any felony. The penalties for first-degree burglary include:

  • 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison12.
  • It is also considered a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law, which can lead to enhanced penalties for repeat offenders2.

Conspiracy

Conspiracy charges in California are defined under Penal Code 182 PC. A conspiracy involves an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, and at least one person must commit an overt act to further the agreement. The penalties for conspiracy depend on the underlying crime:

  • If the conspiracy is to commit a felony, the penalties are the same as those for the underlying felony34.
  • For misdemeanors, the penalties can include up to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine4.
  • In some cases, fines can be as high as $10,000 or more, depending on the specifics of the conspiracy4.
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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.