Man Busted In Massive Burglary Spree At Laguna Beach Shops

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A 26-year-old man was behind bars Wednesday on charges of stealing about $200,000 in valuables from a shopping center in Laguna Beach.

Alexander Kenneth Joe Aguirre pleaded not guilty Friday to grand theft and burglary, both felonies, according to court records. Aguirre was next due in court Monday for a pretrial hearing.

Aguirre, who was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail, was arrested Feb. 28 in Oceanside in connection with the July 26 theft of jewelry businesses at The Shops at the Cliffs shopping center, according to Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jim Cota.

Co-defendant Edward David Torrison, 30, of Oceanside, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 32 months in prison in October to four counts of second- degree burglary, two counts of grand theft and one count of receiving stolen property, all felonies, and admitted sentencing enhancement allegations of property damage exceeding $65,000.

Torrison admitted his guilt in his second court appearance in the case.

Torrison was arrested Sept. 26 in Oceanside, where he lived with his girlfriend. Police found about $500,000 in stolen jewelry and two loaded guns in the suspect's residence, according to Cota.

Police were called July 26 about burglaries at the Shops at the Cliffs shopping center, where losses at four stores exceeded $200,000, Cota said. Aguirre was also seen in the surveillance video from the July 26 burglary, Cota said.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock