A fourth member of a transnational crime ring linked to several residential burglaries in Newport Beach has been arrested, a week after three men from the same group were taken into custody, authorities said Thursday.
Newport Beach police said the organized crime crew targeted the communities of Newport Beach and Irvine for the past several month.
But when their attempted burglary was interrupted in the Shady Canyon area of Irvine on Jan. 10, the suspects jumped over a fence while carrying backpacks. Then the suspects were seen traveling to the Turtle Rock area, walking into an open space and crouching in nearby bushes before running away in a getaway vehicle, according to video footage released by police.
The Jan. 10 incident led to the arrests of three of the suspects last week.
Nearly a week after the three men were taken into custody, Newport Beach investigators were able to track down the fourth suspect in LA.
The arrests of four men were possible thanks to collaborations with the Los Angeles and Irvine police departments, Newport Beach authorities said.
The fourth suspect, identified as Erick Isaac Enrique Belmar-Gallardo with multiple outstanding warrants, was held without bail at the LAPD Valley jail, according to police.