Police are investigating a string of vehicle break-ins that occurred at Fashion Island and surrounding areas over the weekend.
All seven thefts occurred Saturday between 3 and 9 p.m., five occurred at Fashion Island. Four of the vehicles broken into were Cadillac Escalades.
“It’s not (positively) known if they’re connected,” said Newport Beach Police Department spokeswoman Kathy Lowe. But “with all the similarities” it’s likely, she said.
The other two vehicle burglaries occurred in the 1600 block of E. Coast Highway and the 1100 block of Irvine Ave.
Over $15,000 worth of items were stolen and $600 worth of damage was done.
The thief (or thieves) stole navigation and/or GPS systems from all the vehicles, Lowe said, an iPhone and other miscellaneous items, including the third row seat from one of the escalades.
“We’ve seen the third seat taken out before,” Lowe said. It’s more common in long-term parking though, like at the airport, she said.
The suspect(s) used various means to enter the cars, she said, there were no obvious ways of entry, like a broken window, but several seem to have had the driver side door locks punched out with an unknown tool.
Police recommend securing any valuable property out of view and always locking the doors.
“There are certain crime trends throughout the year,” Lowe said, “and this is one we are seeing now.”
