Wet Suit Burglar Hung Out to Dry, Detectives Report
A man who donned scuba gear to clean boats has been arrested on suspicion of burglaries at several waterfront homes in Newport Beach and is suspected of stealing as much as $1 million in jewelry and family heirlooms, police and Tuesday.
Steven Scott Warren, 23, of Costa Mesa was arrested and charged with three counts of burglary and was being held Tuesday in lieu of $50,000 bail at Orange County Jail. Warren had worked for a Costa Mesa boar maintenance firm, police said.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. March 14, 1985 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday March 14, 1985 Orange County Edition Part 1 Page 2 Column 1 Metro Desk 2 inches; 60 words Type of Material: Correction
As a result of inaccurate information from a state Department of Corrections employee, The Times erroneously reported Wednesday that a suspect in several Newport Beach burglaries had earlier been sentenced to state prison for car theft. In fact, the suspect, Steven Scott Warren, 21, served 10 weekends with the honor farm branch of the Orange County Jail after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted burglary.
Newport Beach police Detective Tom Holub said at least 20 additional burglary counts could be brought against Warren based on property that was claimed Tuesday by 18 owners.
Holub said investigators believe Warren is responsible for 59 similar burglaries in the waterfront area since last summer.
Police said a man dressed in full wet suit and approaching from the water broke into scores of bay side homes, almost always on weekdays during working hours.
“We knew we were dealing with someone with water access,” Holub said. “We didn’t find any flipper footprints, but there were pools of water found.”
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