Arrests made in jewelry theft

Police have arrested two people they say stole $350,000 worth of jewelry from a Newport Beach woman last month, authorities announced Friday.

Brandy Watts, 28, and Thomas Watts, 30, will be arraigned next week on charges of possession of stolen property after police traced pawned jewelry belonging to Vonda Simon, a Newport Beach resident and business owner, back to the couple, Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

On Oct. 13, Simon called police and reported that a safe containing $350,000 worth of jewelry that was left in the back seat of her Bentley parked in the garage was missing.

Simon accidentally left the car unlocked, and the garage door open, giving thieves easy access to the safe and the jewels.

Prosecutors say the Wattses took advantage of Simon’s mistake and stole the safe, jewels and all.

“We don’t know if she was targeted or if they were just looking around and hit the jackpot,” Sailor said. “More likely it was just dumb luck.”

Thanks to an anonymous tip, police visited a local pawn shop and found a piece of Simon’s jewelry.

From there, they traced it to the Wattses, who were arrested Wednesday. Brandy Watts was arrested in her Newport Beach home, where police said she was wearing some of Simon’s jewelry when they confronted her, and was carrying some in her purse.

Thomas Watts was arrested in his home in Fullerton, where authorities found more of the jewelry, officials said.

In all, police recovered 11 pieces of jewelry worth about $11,000, officials said. That’s a far cry from the $350,000 originally taken.

The safe was not recovered, police said.

Officials are investigating where the rest of Simon’s possessions could be, or if anyone else was involved.

If you have received or purchased anything from Thomas or Brandy Watts, police said you must notify them immediately.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call (800) 550-NBPD.

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