High-Profile Police Action Nets Suspected Burglars In Orinda

Orindans stopped, stared and unlimbered their cell phones after local police moved in on a carload of suspected burglars in the BevMo parking lot Tuesday.

Orinda Police Chief Jeffrey Jennings said that things started off about 11:05 a.m. when a Muth Drive resident called police to report that she saw a white car stop in her neighborhood, an occupant get out and begin knocking on doors while three other individuals remained in the car.

The caller provided a general description of the car and occupants, Jennings said, and it was later determined that all four individuals eventually exited the car and went to the rear of a Muth Drive Home.

An Orinda police sergeant spotted the car, a white Mitsubishi Mirage, on Moraga Way and Orchard Road and followed it to the BevMo parking lot where officers converged and a felony stop was executed at 11:20 a.m. -- officers approaching the suspect car with guns drawn.

The four occupants of the car, all juveniles, were detained for questioning. Police later received a call from a resident reporting that a suspected burglary had taken place on Martha Road. A witness was driven to BevMo by police and the four in-custody juveniles were positively identified as the suspects in the burglary, Jennings said.

The four, whose names were not released due to their age, were arrested for residential burglary and conspiracy, according to the chief. Police allegedly recovered numerous stolen items from the Mitsubishi, including cash, jewelry, cameras, musical instruments and weapons. The four were booked into Juvenile Hall.

According to Jennings, the four have been connected to at least one burglary in Orinda and Lafayette police are investigating to see if they are linked to recent residential burglaries in their jurisdiction.

"Kudos to the Orinda resident who quickly called police when she saw suspicious activity," Jennings said. "This case would not have reached a successful conclusion without her. We encourage residents to call police if they see any suspicious people, vehicles or activity."