Looky-Loo Was Larcenous, Deputies Say

She appeared to Realtors as an ardent house-hunter, a woman on the prowl for a bargain in a time of skyrocketing home prices.

But as Laurie Ogle visited open houses across South County, sheriff’s deputies allege, her bargain-hunting focused more on swiping valuables inside the homes than on finding a great real estate deal.

For the second time in less than a year, deputies arrested the 41-year-old on suspicion of pilfering jewelry and prescription drugs from homes she toured.

Ogle was arrested Sunday afternoon after touring a Laguna Niguel home on Alfieri Street. Deputies said they found in her car a gold chain, necklaces and prescription drugs taken from the home, as well as jewelry from at least two other houses she allegedly toured the same day.

Sheriff’s officials said thefts during house tours are rare, but nevertheless highlight the risk of inviting strangers into a home.

“You have three or four couples in the house with one Realtor, and he can’t watch everybody,” said sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino. “We have to remind all residents that when they have their homes up for sale to lock up all their valuables, especially their jewelry.”

Ogle was arrested after a real estate agent showing the home became suspicious when he heard someone closing a drawer in one of the bedrooms, officials said. The agent told officers he confronted Ogle and asked her to leave the house.

He said he watched her pull away from the house in a red Mercury convertible and called 911. A deputy stopped Ogle several blocks away and discovered the items, Amormino said.

A Laguna Niguel resident, Ogle was booked into Orange County jail on suspicion of burglary. She was convicted of attempted robbery in 1999 and burglary last year, serving jail time following each conviction, according to the district attorney’s office.

Sheriff’s investigators said they believe Ogle may be responsible for other burglaries at open houses and urged other possible victims to call them at (949) 425-1900.