Woman a suspect in $40K burglary

COSTA MESA — Police are looking for a Costa Mesa resident suspected of stealing $40,000 worth of property from a Lake Arrowhead home.

Shilyn Fellbaum, 33, tried to return a stolen $9,000 fur coat to the Neiman Marcus store at Fashion Island, said Det. Craig Harris of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Her attempt failed when a sales associate recognized that the coat was sold to one of her customers and placed a call to the victim to verify, Harris said.

The Costa Mesa Police Department on Wednesday assisted Harris with his search warrant at Fellbaum’s Costa Mesa residence.

Additional property — mainly jewelry — was recovered, and two people were arrested, one for possession of stolen property and the other for violating his parole, Harris said.

Fellbaum, who is also on probation, was not found at the home. Other items found were connected to several burglaries in Newport Beach, Harris said.

Fellbaum’s family would not disclose her whereabouts, saying that they haven’t seen her for a few days, Harris said.

On the day after Fellbaum attempted to return the coat, a man also tried to return one of the victim’s shoes to the high-end department store, but also failed, Harris said.

Fellbaum burglarized the Lake Arrowhead home between June 24 and July 26 while the victim was on vacation, Harris said.

Fellbaum was a friend of the victim’s daughter, he said.

A $75,000 arrest warrant has been issued.

“Hopefully, we’re able to get her in custody soon and move forward with the case,” he said.

Anyone with information about Fellbaum’s whereabouts can call Harris at (909) 336-0601.