Burglary suspect arrested

Costa Mesa police have arrested a Santa Ana man they suspect of being responsible for a baker’s dozen home burglaries in the city last week, authorities said Wednesday.

Police arrested Michael Rodarte, 31, on suspicion of prowling and residential burglary Tuesday evening after they received a call about a suspicious man near Carson Street and Coolidge Avenue.

Police found Rodarte nearby, matching the suspect’s description, police said.

While Rodarte was arrested initially on suspicion of prowling, officers in the jail realized he resembled a police sketch passed around within the department of a man who is believed to have burglarized 13 homes in the Irish and Flower residential tracts the week before, police said.

After interviews with detectives and physical evidence linking him to the burglaries was discovered, he was also booked on suspicion of burglary, said Sgt. Bryan Glass.

Between Nov. 12 and Saturday, 13 homes on the northern end of the city were burglarized, with the burglar leaving DNA and fingerprint evidence behind, authorities said. During one burglary Saturday, a homeowner confronted the man and was able to provide a description for the police — the very description that led to the police sketch that netted Rodarte, police said.

Rodarte was moved to Orange County Jail on Tuesday and is free on $20,000 bail, Glass said. Police continue to investigate for additional victims, and say Rodarte could face more charges.

If anyone has information about this series of burglaries, they are encouraged to call Det. Dave Casarez at (714) 754-5157 or Det. Hans Guenther at (714) 754-5120.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.