May 18, 2023
ORANGE COUNTY, CA—More than 140 people have been charged in connection with Orange County burglaries and robberies in the last year, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Over 24 defendants of the 140 people charged are allegedly part of five different burglary crews charged in the last two weeks alone, reports KTLA5.
Seven newly charged defendants are also facing hate crime enhancements for allegedly targeting Asian homeowners in Brea, Irvine, Yorba Linda, Orange, and other wealthy neighborhoods where Asian-Americans live.
Many African-American suspects involved in robberies and burglaries already have multiple strikes under California’s Three Strikes Law.
In the latest case, 12 people were charged in 13 homes invasions. Seven are facing hate crime charges and five are facing life sentences for kidnapping to commit robbery, according to officials. The African-American crew is believed to have ties to Riverside and Los Angeles counties.
Authorities began the series of arrests last week, culminating in a nine-month investigation by the Brea Police Department. One suspect allegedly live-streamed part of his arrest.
In one particular incident back on May 31, 2022, suspect Darrell Hollowayne allegedly broke into a Brea home and rolled a large safe down the stairs when he was interrupted by the son of the homeowner, who then called the police.
Hollowayne returned to the same house with five additional suspects later that night armed with guns and stole the safe.
In another incident, a friend of a victim ran out of the house and was captured by the home invaders and beaten for his disobedience. The suspects then allegedly threatened to kill the victim if he couldn’t open the safe because his mother was out of town and she had the code.
The African-American suspects successfully stole the safe and photographed themselves sitting on top of it, according to authorities.
In another incident, a college student in Irvine had just finished showering when two masked men walked into her bedroom, ordered her to get dressed, and made her walk around the house and point out where she kept every piece of valuable bag, jewelry, and cash, reports KTLA5.
Many of the suspects live outside of Orange County and some as far away as South America and a few are Asian-American.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated that these crimes are not crimes of opportunity.
“These are carefully calculated and planned attacks on what should be our safe place – our homes. These crews are waiting, they are watching our every move, and when they think the timing is just right, they are smashing their way into our lives – and carrying out whatever cash, jewelry, and other expensive items they can find. And when they get it wrong – and someone is home – they do whatever it takes to terrorize their victims into telling them where the money is,” he said.
Spitzer told KTLA5 that judges and the legislature have “failed” those in law enforcement. He claims people who already served time re-offend because there are “no consequences.”
“That’s exactly why there are people with five, six, and nine strikes breaking into our homes instead of serving time behind bars. The criminals are getting a strong message – the reward is far greater than the risk – and crime literally pays in California. If you come here to commit crimes, we’re going to arrest you and we are going to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
Feature Screenshot via Orange County District Attorney’s Office