Trial begins for suspected serial burglar

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- A suspected serial burglar charged with targeting ritzy

homes in search of silverware and expensive jewelry faced one of his

alleged victims Tuesday.

Robert Peter Vordale, 48, is charged with 13 felony counts of residential

burglary and receiving stolen property. Vordale is a “three strikes”

candidate because of two prior convictions in the mid-1980s on similar charges. If convicted, he could face a sentence of 25 years to life in

prison.

Vordale was arrested last June in Newport Beach only yards away from a

home he allegedly burglarized. The home, in the 100 block of Ocean Vista,

was ransacked. The owner of the condominium testified Tuesday that when

she and her husband returned from a vacation celebrating their 40th

wedding anniversary, their home was a mess. Missing from shelves and

drawers were jewelry, silverware and an all-important suitcase.

“Things were moved, dropped and generally in disarray,” the woman said

during the trial at Harbor Justice Center.

The suitcase was found near where Vordale was arrested. Police found most

of the stolen belongings inside the stolen piece of luggage.

Police were also led to a stolen 1996 Land Rover that Vordale was

reportedly driving. Authorities found a cache of stolen goods inside the

sport-utility vehicle, including a laptop computer, jewelry and credit

cards. Vordale’s driver’s license, passport and a police scanner were

also inside the vehicle.

Authorities believe the defendant was responsible for a handful of

burglaries between May 1997 and June 1998 in Newport Beach.

Vordale is familiar with the beachside territory. He was arrested in 1985

when police tied him to several burglaries in the Spyglass Hill

neighborhood.

Newport Beach has been a lucrative location for potential thieves who are

attracted to high-priced loot. There were 635 burglaries reported last

year -- fifth-highest in the county.

Vordale isn’t the only suspected burglar who allegedly favored Newport

Beach turf now facing charges. Gerry Branagan, alleged to be Newport’s

notorious “Second Story Burglar,” may spend the rest of his life in

prison if convicted on some 30 felony weapons and burglary counts.

Branagan was arrested earlier this year and is believed to have committed

at least eight burglaries in Newport Beach. Authorities suspect he was

responsible for a series of Newport burglaries where the thief would

enter the second floor of homes.

His trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 10 in San Diego.