Man to be arraigned for charges of car break-ins

A Lake Elsinore man is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges he broke into luxury cars in several cities in Orange County, including Newport Beach, and stole personal information for identity thefts, officials said.

Jesus Lara Jr. is charged with two felony counts of second degree burglary and two felony counts of using stolen credit card numbers taken from cars in Newport Beach, Irvine and Dana Point, among other places.

Prosecutors claim between October and January Lara worked with five other people in an identity theft ring that targeted the owners of luxury cars throughout Orange County.

Lara is accused of breaking into cars, stealing personal information then using it to open credit card accounts so he could buy items.

The alleged thieves bought things ranging from a diamond ring to a BMW, prosecutors said.

Lara’s possible sentence is enhanced by a previous strike. He faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted.

— Joseph Serna