Fool’s Gold: Theft of Sports Center Medals Could Lead to 3rd Strike
Police arrested a three-strikes candidate after he broke into a martial arts emporium and stole a plastic medallion that he thought was gold, authorities said Monday.
The owner of the South Coast Martial Arts and Boxing Center noticed the door was ajar when he drove past his business on Harbor Boulevard about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Lt. Ron Smith said. The owner told police he saw flashlights inside, and officers surrounded the place.
Robert Paul Caperelli Jr., 31, of Costa Mesa escaped through a roof hatch, dropped to the ground and ran, only to be tackled by officers about a block away, at the 7-Eleven at Harbor Boulevard and Gisler Avenue, Smith said.
Caperelli was carrying several worthless medals and an insignia he had broken off a trophy mistakenly thinking it was made of gold, Smith said.
Caperelli already has several criminal convictions, Smith said, and is eligible for a life sentence upon his next conviction under the state’s “three strikes” law.
Caperelli is being held at Costa Mesa City Jail on suspicion of commercial burglary, in lieu of $10,000 bail.
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