Police Files

Eastbluff community hit with three residential burglaries over several-week period

Multiple residential burglaries have occurred over the last several weeks in the Eastbluff community.

The first took place sometime between 9 a.m. on June 19 and 8:30 p.m. on June 25, in the 2400 block of Blackthorne St.

While the victim was away, an unknown suspect entered the home by removing a window screen and then climbing through. The suspect then ransacked the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, master bedroom and master closet before fleeing through the front door.

The reported losses were collectible items.

No information on the suspect was available.

Another residential burglary occurred in the 700 block of Bison Ave., sometime between 5:30 p.m. on June 23 and 7 a.m. on June 24.

While the victim’s home was being fumigated, an unknown suspect ripped part of the tent covering and accessed the residence through the garage. The suspect rummaged through the garage and then moved inside the home to a bedroom and office.

The suspect also moved a safe in the residence and attempted to force it open but was unsuccessful.

Losses included electronic devices, recreation gear and a record player.

No suspect information was available.

The final one occurred on Sunday, July 7 at approximately 8:45 p.m.

While the victims were away, an unknown female approached the front door and rang the doorbell. Shortly thereafter, unknown suspects pried open the rear French doors to access the house. Once inside, the suspects located a safe and made an unsuccessful attempt to pry it open. They also ransacked the master bedroom and an additional bedroom before fleeing out through the front doors.

The loss was unknown at the time of the report to police.

Possible suspect information included a Hispanic female and two adult males. No other information was released.

Woodward to be tried for the murder of Blake Bernstein by year’s end

Samuel Woodward, of Newport Beach, will reportedly be tried for the murder of Blake Bernstein toward the end of 2021, according to Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Menninger.

The trial at first was expected to take place this summer.

Woodward was arrested and charged with killing his former Orange County School of the Arts high school classmate Bernstein in January of 2018. It is suspected that Woodward picked up Bernstein at his parents’ Lake Forest home in the late evening hours of January 2, 2018. The two then drove around, landing in the Foothill Ranch Shopping Center, before leaving to go on to Borrego Park.

Woodward told detectives following his arrest that Bernstein left the vehicle to enter the park and disappeared. Bernstein was found buried in a shallow grave in the park six days later.

Woodward, who allegedly has ties to the neo-Nazi organization Atomwaffen Division, is thought to have killed Bernstein partly because he was gay. Additionally, a former attorney of Woodward’s also stated that he suffered from issues with his own sexuality.

Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.