Suspect bagged in Dover Shores crime spree

Sue Doyle

NEWPORT BEACH -- A 23-year-old woman whose purse was found at the

scene of a crime spree in Dover Shores last week was arrested Tuesday

after she called police to report her missing bag, authorities said.

Dedra Dianne Moffat, of Newport Beach, was booked on suspicion of

burglary and auto theft. She is expected to be arraigned Thursday at

Harbor Justice Center. She is being held at Orange County Women’s Jail in

Santa Ana in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Moffat allegedly stole a BMW from Blue Water Drive at around 4:30 a.m.

Friday and later stuffed it with items she reportedly ripped off from

unlocked garages.

Officers found the abandoned car and for hours searched, with the help

of bloodhounds, for a suspect.

Police allege Moffat stole another car from Hampshire Street to elude

authorities. The second car was found Saturday morning in the Dover

Shores area. In the vehicle was Moffat’s purse, containing a Texas

identification card.

During the weekend, police said they received a phone call from

Moffat, who reported her purse missing. Officers invited Moffat to the

station Tuesday, under the ruse that they needed to interview her about

the missing purse, said Sgt. Mike McDermott of the Newport Beach Police

Department.

McDermott said it is unusual, but not unheard of, for a suspect to

leave identification behind at the scene.