LOCAL : Suspect in 10 Burglaries Held
A Newport Beach man suspected of burglarizing at least 10 Balboa Island businesses over the last couple of weeks was arrested today after he apparently broke into two stores, authorities said.
Investigators, who had been staking out several locations along Marine Avenue, observed Wilbert B. Long Jr., 18, walking down a nearby alley and stopped him for questioning about 1 a.m. today, Newport Beach Police Lt. Tim Newman said.
“Based on what the investigators found on him and his own statements, he was arrested in connection with at least 10 burglaries in the area,” he said.
Long is an unemployed construction worker who lives on the 300 block of Marine Avenue, where most of the burglaries occurred during the last couple of weeks, Newman said.
Investigators suspect Long of entering small stores, mainly through windows, and stealing cash from the registers. Several hundred dollars have been stolen from the businesses, Newman said.
Long was found with cash believed stolen from two stores on Agate Avenue just before he was arrested, Newman said.
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