Irvine Police Officers arrested a man and woman after officers observed them circling parking lots of Irvine parks and peering into a parked vehicle.
On Sunday, May 23, 2021, Irvine Police Officers observed a vehicle, with a man and woman inside, circling the parking lots of Quail Hill Community Park and Quail Hill Trailhead. As officers watched, the vehicle stopped near a parked minivan. A man exited the vehicle and peered into the minivan while holding a device used to break into vehicles.
Officers stopped the suspects as they left the area. Inside the vehicle officers located:
- Window punches used to break vehicle windows
- A signal jammer to disrupt vehicle remotes and prevent owners from locking their vehicle
- Fake identifications
The suspects were identified as Los Angeles residents Alicia Garcia-Gomez, 26, and Sabastian Rodriguez, 41. They were arrested and booked at Orange County Jail for a variety of charges to include, possession of burglary tools, forgery of identification documents, and conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary.
Parks and trailheads are attractive targets for vehicle burglars because hikers and walkers frequently leave wallets and purses inside their vehicles. Please leave your valuables at home. If you must keep valuables in your car, please hide them from view to help avoid becoming a victim.