Suspect In String Of Irvine Burglaries Pleads 'Not Guilty'

IRVINE, CA —An Irvine man has pleaded not guilty to committing eight burglaries and one attempted burglary in the city of Irvine, court records showed. Ismail Luqman Wasi is charged with eight counts of first-degree burglary and a count of attempted burglary, all felonies. Wasi -- an employee of the OC Fair and Events Center -- was being held on $250,000 bail.

He's next due in court Feb. 1 for a pretrial hearing at the Harbor Justice Center, according to jail records.

According to police, Wasi was caught following a foot chase Wednesday morning.

"A resident on Gillman who heard a burglar breaking in got up to investigate and saw the suspect holding her laptop," , according to Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department. "The burglar fled and the resident called the police."

Later Wednesday, Wasi broke into homes on Dewberry and Sandburg Way, Mohr said.

"When the suspect was seen near the Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course, police narrowed their search and saw him about 7:25 a.m., prompting the foot chase, in which he was caught," Mohr said.

The suspect had, in his possession, goods reported stolen from the home on Gillman as well as from a break-in in December when investigators say his string of burglaries began, Mohr said.

Police say that they have discovered found more stolen goods in his storage unit, Mohr said.
Wasi is charged with three burglaries on Wednesday, an attempted break-in on Monday, one on Sunday, one on Saturday, one on Jan. 16 and two on Dec. 30, according to court records.

Irvine Police Photo