The Irvine Police Department (IPD) has arrested 33-year-old Brittany Curbelo following a string of thefts in the Northwood neighborhood over the last several weeks.
On March 4, the victim of a residential burglary reported that an unknown suspect stole a garage door opener from his unlocked vehicle parked in front of his residence. The suspect used the remote to open the garage door where several items were stolen, including checks and a computer. Video surveillance from a neighbor captured a female with a small dog, who appeared to be checking door handles. Since that time, the same female suspect was observed on video surveillance cameras stealing items from unlocked vehicles and mailboxes on three other occasions in the same area.
On Friday, April 16, an IPD patrol officer made contact with Curbelo at a gas station near John Wayne airport. A male and a small dog accompanied her. After the interaction, the patrol officer reviewed a police bulletin related to the crime series and concluded Curbelo resembled the suspect captured on surveillance video. The following day, she was located at a hotel in Newport Beach and arrested for burglary and petty theft.
Anyone with information related to this case should contact Detective Jonathan Sampson at (949)724-7270 or email jsampson@cityofirvine.org
Please remember the following crime prevention tips when parking your vehicle: When possible, park your vehicle in a secured and locked garage. If you are unable to park in a garage, park in a well-lit area, remove all valuables, including your garage remote, and lock the doors.