Full Notification

Two residential burglaries recently occurred in the Newport Heights Community. 

400 Block of Catalina Dr. (22-4994)
Occurred around approximately: 5:30 p.m. on July 20, 2022
 
The victims left the home to take their dogs for a walk. The suspects were driving in the area and observed the victims leave. Within a few minutes of the victims leaving, the suspects parked their vehicle across the street. A passenger exited the car and walked through the side gate of the property. The suspect shattered a window to enter the house. Inside, the suspect rummaged through the office, master bedroom and other bedrooms before fleeing the scene with the victim’s property.   
 
Loss: Jewelry, U.S. currency, key.            
Suspect Info:
Suspect 1 (Passenger): Male, approximately 5’10” with dark hair, wearing white shirt, light colored pants, and white shoes.
Suspect 2 (Driver): Hispanic female with brown hair
Suspect Vehicle: Blue Kia Sorento   
 

400 Block of Fullerton Ave. (22-5044)
Occurred around approximately: 4:00 p.m. on July 22, 2022
 
Two of the residents left for the evening while one family member remained at home. Approximately five minutes after the residents left, an unknown suspect accessed side of the home and used an exterior staircase to access the second story. The suspect shattered a glass door and entered the house. When the suspect became aware that someone was home, he fled the scene.
The victim contacted the Newport Beach Police Department immediately, but the suspect was not located in the area when police arrived.  
 
Loss: None.            
Suspect Info: Male, Black, approximately 5’9” with dreadlocks and facial stubble wearing white shirt and yellow shorts.
Suspect Vehicle: Possibly a blue Kia Sorento   
 
One residential burglary recently occurred in the Cliff Haven Community. 

700 Block of St. James Pl. (22-5049)
Occurred between approximately: 6:45 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on July 22, 2022
 
While the victims were out for the evening, an unknown suspect accessed the rear of the property and shattered a glass door to get into the house. Inside, the suspect rummaged through the office, kitchen, master bedroom and master bathroom. The master closet was completely ransacked. The suspect located a bolted- in safe inside the home, but was unsuccessful in attempting to forcibly remove it.
 
Loss: Unknown at this time.             
Suspect Info: Not available.
 
 

**If you see suspicious activity within your neighborhood (especially at a home where you know your neighbors are on vacation, have gone out for the evening, or their home is for sale), please call the Newport Beach Police Department immediately at 949-644-3717**
 
Please review the Home Security Tips below.  We also attached a Home Security Checklist to this notice, so you can print it out and conduct a security assessment on your home to see what security measures you can take to “harden the target”.

Home Security Tips

• Always lock your windows and doors when you go out, even if for only a few minutes. Second story windows & doors should be secured as if they were on the first story.
• Use timers on indoor lamps to give the appearance that you are home. If you’re going out for the evening, leave a television or a radio on in the home. 
• If your home is equipped with an alarm, always activate it even if you’re only going out for a short walk.
  • Consider adding a motion sensor in your master bedroom/bathroom, which will activate the alarm if someone comes in through a glass window or door without opening it.
• Always keep your front and rear porch lights on from dusk to dawn and use motion detector lighting along the sides of your home or areas with little foot traffic.
• Make sure your utility box is secured with a padlock.
• Adjust window coverings for optimal privacy while maintaining good visibility outside.
• Assess whether or not a window can be easily accessed from a tree, balcony, roof, wall, or with patio furniture and adjust your security plan accordingly. Ladders should be stored inside or locked to a stationary object.
• If your garage door has a remote shutoff button on the wall-mounted control, located in the garage, consider locking the door nightly. This will prevent your garage door from being opened remotely.
• If you have a safe, make sure that it is properly bolted to concrete so that it cannot be easily removed.
• Always close and lock your safe and never leave a key or combination out or in an easy to find location (i.e. office, nightstand, etc).
• If you return home and find your pedestrian door that leads into your home locked, and you are certain that you left it unlocked, DO NOT GO INSIDE! Call 9-1-1 ~ Burglars often lock this door to slow down a victim, allowing the burglar extra time to get out of the home before the resident enters.
• When you leave on vacation, remember to call the Police Department for a “Vacation Check” at 949-644-3681. Also, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your newspaper and mail while you are away.
• When you get a knock at your door:
  • Never open the door unless you know the person.
  • Acknowledge you’re home without opening the door.
    • If you have a doorbell camera with two-way audio, this is a great time to use this feature (whether you are home or not).
      • If you are not home, use your doorbell camera to speak to the subject and let them know you are not able to come to the door- do not tell them no one is home.
  • If the individual acts suspiciously, call the police department and provide them with a description of the subject and his/her actions.