Police Files

Group of suspects hit back-to-back homes in Cliff Haven community within minutes of each other

Two residential burglaries recently occurred in the Cliff Haven community with only a common fence preventing unabated direct access into each home. 

First, on Thursday, Jan. 5, at approximately 5:40 p.m., while the victims were away, four suspects were dropped off in front of the home in the 500 block of Cliff Drive and hopped a fence to the side of the house accessing the backyard of the residence. 

The suspects then climbed up to the second story balcony and shattered a sliding glass door to access the master bedroom. Inside, the suspects ransacked the master bedroom, bathroom, closet and hallway. 

They did not disturb any other parts of the house and exited by climbing back down from the balcony. While still in the backyard, the suspects climbed over the shared fence into another neighbor’s backyard.

The loss at the first home was reported as a firearm and jewelry.

Now, once in the backyard of a home fronting the 200 block of Kings Road, the suspects shattered a first-floor rear door leading to the master bedroom. 

They then ransacked the master bedroom, bathroom and closet, before rummaging through a closet and drawers in another bedroom. 

When the suspects tried to open the door to the garage, they activated the alarm causing them to flee the scene through the side gate to a getaway car parked across the street. Police arrived shortly after the alarm activation, but the suspects were not located in the area.

The loss at the second home was not known. 

The suspects’ description showed that they appeared to be wearing gloves, jackets, pants and masks. One suspect wore a gray sweatshirt, and two suspects wore black and white hats.

The fifth suspect, the driver of the getaway car, drove a black sedan.

Burglary hits Mariners home last week

A residential burglary occurred last week, sometime between Monday, Jan. 2 and 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5. The incident occurred in the Mariners community on the 1800 block of Sandalwood Lane.

While the victims were away, an unknown suspect accessed the side of the house and shattered a window leading to the master bedroom. Once inside, the suspect rummaged through the closet and drawers in the master bedroom before fleeing the scene.

Taken were a watch, jewelry box and jewelry.

No suspect information was available.

NBPD Fast Facts

Crime Prevention Tips

–The best way to prevent a car break in is to not leave anything in your car and always lock it. 

–Keep your front porch lights on from dusk to dawn everyday – good visibility around your home is a deterrent for burglars. 

–To prevent a garage burglary, always keep your garage door closed when you’re not present in the garage.

–Use timers on indoor lights or smart lighting options to create the appearance of being home. Burglars target houses that appear to be unoccupied. 

–Add a doorbell camera to your front door or gate. 

–Always lock your windows and doors and set your alarm when you go out – even if it’s just for a few minutes. 

–To prevent a bike theft, invest in high quality bike locks for your bikes and learn how to properly use them. And never leave your bike outside overnight even with a good lock on it – any lock can be defeated with enough time and the right tools. –Have packages delivered to a location where someone will be available to accept them so they are not left unattended on your doorstep. 

Call NBPD immediately when you observe suspicious activity. NBPD’s non-emergency dispatch number is 949.644.3717.

Police Department Resources

–The Police Department offers a free vacation check service for residents of Newport Beach. Find out more here. 

–Concerns about chronic or ongoing traffic issues can be reported directly to the Police Department’s Traffic Division here. 

–You can sign up for Crime Alerts, Traffic Advisories and Community Updates directly from the Newport Beach Police Department via text message, mail or online here. 

–Want to see what kind of police activity is happening in your area? Check out the Calls for Service page on the Police Department website here.