Jewelry Thieves Target Rossmoor Homes

  By John Crandall

A group of thieves may be looking for rings, diamond bracelets, necklaces and watches in Rossmoor homes, authorities said.

From January through March, the unincorporated community experienced 21 incidents of residential burglary, according Orange County Sheriff’s Department statistics.

“In almost every one of them, the loss is jewelry,” said OCSD Lt. Rob Gunzel. Of the 21 residential burglaries, 15 involved watches or jewelry loss.

Gunzel said he wanted to emphasize that a group job is "a possibility" but not a certainty. 

It also remains a possibility that the thieves are targeting their victims, said Gunzel.

Gunzel presented statistics at his quarterly review of local Rossmoor criminal activity at the Rossmoor Community Services District meeting Tuesday night.

Scroll to the end of the story for a full list of the burglary reports January through March.

According to Gunzel, there were 11 reported residential burglaries in January, three in February and seven in March.

Four of the 21 combined burglaries happened to homes with unlocked doors or windows, and Gunzel said that hurts the Sheriff’s Department’s ability to protect people.  

“This is not helping our case at all,” Gunzel said. He said he hopes to make more residents aware that they need to keep their doors and windows locked.

According to Gunzel, investigators are looking through local pawnshops, trying to find evidence of the thieves.

At the meeting, RCSD Board member Alfred Coletta asked Gunzel if someone who lives in the community might be helping the thieves, giving them inside knowledge of Rossmoor.

In response, Gunzel said, “I wouldn’t rule that out.”

To report crime in Rossmoor, call 714-647-7000. For emergencies use 911.

LIST OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES IN ROSSMOOR BY MONTH

Information courtesy the Orange County Sheriff’s Department

January 2013

Two residential burglaries with unforced entries:

• On Harrisburg Road, entry was through a door, no signs of forced entry, loss of jewelry.
• On Brimhall Drive, entry was made through a rear dog door, loss of currency, and watch.

• On Hillrose Drive, a bedroom window was pried open, loss of cell phone.
• On Loch Lomond Road, the kitchen door was pried open, loss of 2 ipods, sports trading cards, jewelry, and currency.
• On Wembley Road, a door was pried open, loss of jewelry.
• On Harisburg Road, entry was made through a door, loss of jewelry.
• On Silver Fox Road, a window was pried open, loss of jewelry.
• On Main Way, entry was made through a door, loss of ipod and jewelry. 
• On Chaucer Road, a window was pried open, loss of jewelry and checkbooks.
  
• On Martha Ann Drive, entry was made through a window, loss of laptop, currency, and a backpack. 
• On Rowena Drive, entry was made through a door, loss of two watches.
  

• On Wallingsford Road, entry was made through an unlocked sliding door. Loss of clothing and flat iron.
• On Wallingsford Road, entry was made through the unlocked front door, loss of jewelry.

• On Orangewood Avenue, a window was pried open, loss of jewelry.

• On Yellowtail Drive, entry though front door, broke glass, unlocked the deadbolt. A loss of laptop computers, and jewelry.

• On Foster Road, window was pried open, loss of handgun. 
• On Coleridge Drive, entry through bathroom window, loss of currency and jewelry.
• On Argyle Drive, window was pried open, loss of duffel bag, garage door opener, and jewelry. 
• On Martha Ann Drive, entry made through a door that was pried open. A loss of a wallet, jewelry, and silverware.
• On Copa D Oro Drive, a window door was pried open, no loss.
• On Drysdale Lane, entry through the back of a locked sliding door. A loss of checkbooks.