Car burglaries up in Newport

Report shows 18% increase from 2004 numbers to 2005 numbers. Most recent was Tuesday.A spate of car burglaries and thefts from vehicles Tuesday in the Eastbluff neighborhood is the latest in a string of such crimes throughout Newport Beach, where statistics released in January showed an 18% increase in those types of thefts in 2005 over the previous year.

No arrests were made in the Tuesday burglaries, however police arrested a 19-year-old man early Saturday in connection with a rash of car burglaries in a Corona del Mar neighborhood.

Jack Lee Edinger of Aliso Viejo was arrested after a resident reportedly saw him inside a vehicle and called police. Edinger is accused seven car burglaries and one garage burglary that occurred over the weekend in Corona del Mar. Edinger also had an outstanding warrant for vehicle thefts, police said.

A man heard a car alarm go off early Saturday and saw a man using a flashlight inside a parked car in the 400 block of Acacia Avenue. The man tried to confront the burglar, but he ran away.

A police officer responded to the call and arrested Edinger on the scene. Along with a small flashlight and a razor blade, Edinger was in possession of items that matched the description of the reported stolen property, which included jewelry, cellphones, cash, CDs and sunglasses, police said. A bicycle reported stolen from a garage was not recovered.

Newport police have said they’re aware of the rising problem of vehicle thefts and burglaries and are asking for the public’s help in solving it.

Police said residents should lock their cars, park in well lighted areas and not leave valuables in cars.

People should take the crime opportunity away from the car burglars who go “car fishing” and looking for valuables left inside cars, Newport Beach Police Sgt. Bill Hartford said.

“If they come to our community and they look into several vehicles and they don’t see anything, they’re going move on,” Hartford said.

If a car burglary or theft does occur, it’s crucial to report the crime as soon as it happens, Hartford said.

In the instance of Saturday’s burglaries, one resident did call to report the crime and police were able to make an arrest right away, Hartford said.

“The police department has stressed that assistance from our citizens results in arrests,” Hartford said.