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Orange County Register (California)
May 25, 2013 Saturday
Two men arrested in church thefts
By SEAN EMERY, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
IRVINE; Pg. Five
Police have arrested two men suspected to be members of a burglary
crew that struck religious institutions throughout Orange County after
DNA evidence allegedly tied one of them to a theft at an Irvine
temple.
Robert Dennis, 45, and Fernando Flores, 21, were taken into custody
Wednesday, five days after Daniel Cortes, 29, was arrested by Santa
Ana investigators. Authorities are seeking a fourth suspect, James
Dorscht, 39.
The men are believed to be tied to burglaries at churches in Santa Ana
and Anaheim and an Islamic center and temple in Irvine where donation
boxes were pried open or safes were stolen, Irvine police Lt. Julia
Engen said.
Irvine investigators this week received results regarding DNA evidence
collected after the temple burglary Jan. 15. The DNA identified Dennis
as a suspect, Engen said.
Irvine detectives located Dennis and Flores leaving a business at a
Santa Ana commercial complex. A search of their vehicle turned up
burglary tools, a club and a shotgun that authorities learned had been
taken from one of Flores' relatives, Engen said.
Dennis was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of burglary
tools, possession of a dangerous weapon and being a felon in
possession of a firearm, police said.
Flores was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of
methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft of a firearm
and possession of a dangerous weapon. Flores also reportedly had a
$15,000 warrant in his name tied to a prostitution sting, Engen said.
Cortes, whom Santa Ana investigators arrested May 17, was located
after police received a tip alleging that he was the man caught on
video during a burglary May 1 at Forty Martyrs Armenian Church
attempting to disable a surveillance camera.
Security videos from the burglaries have been shared among law
enforcement agencies.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on Dorscht's
whereabouts to contact Irvine police at 949-724-7200.
From: A. Papazian
May 25, 2013 Saturday
Two men arrested in church thefts
By SEAN EMERY, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
IRVINE; Pg. Five
Police have arrested two men suspected to be members of a burglary
crew that struck religious institutions throughout Orange County after
DNA evidence allegedly tied one of them to a theft at an Irvine
temple.
Robert Dennis, 45, and Fernando Flores, 21, were taken into custody
Wednesday, five days after Daniel Cortes, 29, was arrested by Santa
Ana investigators. Authorities are seeking a fourth suspect, James
Dorscht, 39.
The men are believed to be tied to burglaries at churches in Santa Ana
and Anaheim and an Islamic center and temple in Irvine where donation
boxes were pried open or safes were stolen, Irvine police Lt. Julia
Engen said.
Irvine investigators this week received results regarding DNA evidence
collected after the temple burglary Jan. 15. The DNA identified Dennis
as a suspect, Engen said.
Irvine detectives located Dennis and Flores leaving a business at a
Santa Ana commercial complex. A search of their vehicle turned up
burglary tools, a club and a shotgun that authorities learned had been
taken from one of Flores' relatives, Engen said.
Dennis was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of burglary
tools, possession of a dangerous weapon and being a felon in
possession of a firearm, police said.
Flores was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of
methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft of a firearm
and possession of a dangerous weapon. Flores also reportedly had a
$15,000 warrant in his name tied to a prostitution sting, Engen said.
Cortes, whom Santa Ana investigators arrested May 17, was located
after police received a tip alleging that he was the man caught on
video during a burglary May 1 at Forty Martyrs Armenian Church
attempting to disable a surveillance camera.
Security videos from the burglaries have been shared among law
enforcement agencies.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on Dorscht's
whereabouts to contact Irvine police at 949-724-7200.
From: A. Papazian