Crime & Safety

Burglary 101: Stealing and Drinking Don't Mix

A man who allegedly stole beer and jewelry from a Balboa Island home is arrested after reports of a drunk person sitting on a park bench, police say.

Police in Newport Beach arrested a man for allegedly stealing jewelry and beer from a home on Balboa Island, after an officer found him drunk on a park bench, a police official said Monday.

Gregory Jordan Mitton, 46, of Anaheim, was arrested Thursday and charged with burglary, according to Kathy Lowe, police spokeswoman. Lowe said the residential burglary occurred that day between 8 and 11:40 a.m. at a home in the 100 block of North Bay Front.

"The suspect entered the residence via an unlocked door. Once inside the residence, the suspect took jewelry from an upstairs bedroom and beer from the kitchen," Lowe said.

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That same morning, a police officer responded to a report of a drunk man sitting on a park bench in the area of North Bay Front and Sapphire. The officer arrested the man for public intoxication and during the booking process found he had items that matched the description of things that were stolen from the home, Lowe said.

Safety Tips:

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  • To ensure the safety of your home, schedule an appointment for a free security inspection by calling Newport Beach police at 949-644-3699.
  • Make sure the doors and windows of your home are locked at all times.
  • Install a deadbolt lock in all doors leading from your garage to your home or outside.
  • Use a vacation bolt or padlock in the garage door’s track, ¼ inch above the roller when the door is in a closed position. This will prevent the door from opening in the event someone has a garage door opener with your door’s frequency.
  • Cover your garage windows with curtains or blinds to prevent a burglar from seeing what you keep in your garage.
  • It only takes seconds to remove property from an open garage, never leave your garage doors open even for short periods of time, when you are not present.
  • Consider improving the lighting on your property, criminals like to work in the dark.
  • Put your Neighborhood Watch to work. Make a strong commitment to knowing and watching out for each other.

Newport Beach police say if you arrive at your home and notice something out of place that leads you to think someone has been in your home while you were out, go to a safe location and call 911. If you notice suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call 949-644-3717 immediately.


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