Crime & Safety

Residents Buzzed By MV Search That Nabs Four

Early morning search near the edge of town yields suspects in car theft and burglaries.

Rancho Santa Margarita residents on the city's western edge were buzzed for a few hours early Friday morning by the helicopter of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Police services were conducting a search for burglary suspects in nearby Mission Viejo. Four subjects were apprehended, two after a ground and air search.

According to Lt. Steve Gil of the OCSD, two men and two women were in custody after deputies happened upon a vehicle near La Barca and Jornada, an area between Marguerite Parkway and Melinda Road west of Santa Margarita Parkway.

The vehicle was stolen about a week ago in Costa Mesa.

A man and woman escaped into the neighborhood, igniting a three-hour search.

The incident began about 4:30 a.m. and concluded about three hours later, according to Gil, who said the suspects are believed to be responsible for thefts from a half-dozen cars in the area during the early morning.

"We're looking for victims," Gil said, noting that anyone who noticed anything missing from their vehicles can call 949-770-6011 to report it.


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