Fullerton : Clues Lead Investigators to Supect in Jewel Thefts
A trail of clues, beginning with the suspicions of a hotel clerk, led investigators Thursday to a man they suspect may be responsible for a string of jewel thefts in the Saddleback Valley, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman said.
Lt. Bob Rivas said investigators found jewelry in the suspect’s car and were showing it to burglary victims in hopes that they may identify it.
Rivas said investigators have already linked the suspect--Robert Leslie Ryan, 25, of San Mateo--to the June 25 burglary that netted about $23,450 in jewelry from a house in the 24000 block of Valley Rim Terrace, El Toro.
After the suspect, using a credit card stolen during that burglary, checked into a hotel in Costa Mesa, the hotel clerk became suspicious, Rivas said.
The clerk contacted the credit card company, which contacted the credit card owner, who did not know that the card had been taken during the burglary, Rivas said.
Sheriff’s investigators were alerted, and their investigation led to a pawn shop in Fullerton where, by chance, the suspect appeared just after investigators arrived. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary.
Rivas said there are at least three similar burglaries in the Saddleback area for which Ryan may be responsible.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
