LA Gang Members Terrorized OC Homeowners In Huge Burglary Ring: Police

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Twenty people, including five juveniles, were charged this week for their involvement in an extensive Los Angeles crime ring thought to be responsible for almost three dozen home burglaries across Orange County.

Nine of the defendants were arrested in a sweep Wednesday while the remaining 11 defendants remain wanted on felony warrants, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said.

The 20 defendants were charged in connection with a burglary ring tied to 34 break-ins across the county with an estimated loss of about $500,000 in cash, weapons and valuables.

According to prosecutors, the burglary ring was responsible for two residential break-ins in Laguna Beach.

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said the charges are the result of "months of hard work," starting in September when authorities began working a case involving three residential burglaries, two in unincorporated Santa Ana and one in Yorba Linda. That prompted a team of investigators to work on building a bigger case, Barnes said.

Fullerton police have been investigating 19 burglaries, with the rest being handled by sheriff's deputies, Barnes said.

The 20 defendants have ties to Los Angeles-based gangs, Barnes and Spitzer said.

The thieves are "organized" and have utilize sophisticated methods involving monitoring social media messages to see who is out of town, surveillance of affluent homes to get patterns of coming and going of residents and even breaking in through a second-floor balcony to avoid security system motion detectors, Barnes said.

Spitzer said that the gangs are recruiting juveniles to help with the heists because they tend to face lesser punishment from the system because of their age.

During the sweep this week, law enforcement recovered seven guns, two of which were stolen, multiple high-capacity magazines and $40,000 in cash, jewelry and handbags, Barnes said.

He said he hopes residents "can sleep a little better" knowing the thieves were arrested.

"To the criminals associated with these crews, we will find you, we will arrest you," Barnes said. "And you will do your time in Orange County... You're not going to get out next week."

The sheriff reminded residents to make sure they lock all their doors and windows, consider padlocking side gates, which are popular points of entry for thieves, and ensuring their homes are well lit. He added that putting lights on a timer and installing a security system with cameras will also help steer thieves away.

The defendants charged in the ring include:

• Deautri Hamilton, 30, of Los Angeles;
• Jesus Alberto Guerra, 29, of Los Angeles;
• Javier Guerrero, 31, of Los Angeles;
• Michael Jason Serrano, 21, of Los Angeles;
• Tyrell Benyon Haley, 23, of Compton;
• Michael Jason Serrano, 21, of Los Angeles;
• Nathaniel Eric Roberts, 25, of Los Angeles;
• Jeris Je Young Abalos, 34, of Los Angeles;
• Tahj Kamare Richardson, 21, of Los Angeles;
• Keven Von Claudell Holland, 35, of Los Angeles;
• Kadin Isaiah Williams, 22, of Lakewood;
• Jamari Nijie Devon Manning, 19, of Los Angeles;
• Quaion Jayvion McClenton, 23, of Compton;
• Deion Robert Franklin, 19, of Los Angeles;
• Mika Mark McGee, 20, of Compton and;
• Joshua Jermiah Rivas, 20, of Los Angeles.