Police arrest 3 suspects linked to transnational crime ring behind multiple Orange County burglaries

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (KABC) -- Three suspects who police say are linked to a transnational organized crime ring have been arrested after allegedly burglarizing multiple homes in Orange County.

The Irvine and Newport Beach police departments have been working together to track down the suspects, who they say were targeting affluent hillside neighborhoods.

They said the suspects lived in the Los Angeles area and would drive south to commit the crimes.

Police have not yet said how many burglaries the group is linked to as their investigation remains open and active, but noted there are multiple. The arrests come just days after Newport Beach police warned of hillside residential burglaries. Recent alerts from Newport Beach detailed shattered sliding glass doors, cut window screens, ransacked primary bedrooms and stolen jewelry, handbags and cash.

"These groups like to hit homes in high-end areas. They primarily target homes that back up to hillsides or parks or trails that can be accessed from the back, and they commonly like to access the homes by either smashing the rear sliding door or making their way up to a balcony and gaining entry that way," said Officer Ziggy Azarcon with Irvine Police Department.

Azarcon said the group was on their radar because detectives from Newport Beach had identified a suspect vehicle linked to recent burglaries there. They partnered with Irvine police to investigate.

For weeks, Irvine's Crime Impact Unit conducted surveillance across Los Angeles and identified several suspects. With support from the Huntington Beach Police Department's helicopter, police watched them as they drove into Irvine earlier this month, suspiciously entering a high-end community.

"They parked in the Shady Canyon community of Irvine -- and that's been hit before for residential burglaries. [They] got out of the vehicle and started jumping fence lines and running through bushes with backpacks on," Azarcon said.

The suspects were spooked, seen crawling through bushes before jumping back into a car and taking off. But on Wednesday, three suspects were arrested in the Los Angeles area.

"This is an organized crew. We wouldn't be surprised if they hit other places all throughout Southern California," Azarcon said.

The suspects have been identified as 32-year-old John Brayan Soliz-Reinoso of Reseda, 32-year-old Francisco Alegria of Reseda and 22-year-old Daniel Mejia-Reinoso of Northridge. Irvine police said they are still searching for one outstanding suspect.

A spokesperson with the Orange County Sheriff's Department said the suspects were booked for burglary and conspiracy to commit a crime. They are ineligible for bail.

"It could happen anywhere, you know, any neighborhood, any place is subject to people breaking into their homes," said Kathy Billings of Irvine.

Orange County residents say they are relieved.

"We've had a few burglaries on my street, and they'll come up through the canyons, and they're very quick and efficient and well researched, so it's difficult to catch them," said Karen Kamel of Newport Beach. "So when they're actually caught, that's great news for everybody."