Teens confess to two robberies, police say

Newport Beach police said they’ve arrested four people, one man and three juveniles, whom they suspect have mugged two people in the last two weeks.

About 1:35 a.m. Friday, Jorge Leal, 18, Anaheim, and three boys, between 16 and 17 years old, all from Anaheim, were stopped after they ran to a car at 34th Street and West Balboa Boulevard and drove off. Sgt. Evan Sailor said a patrolling officer saw them run and found a reason to stop them soon after they started driving.

While talking with the group, police figured out they had just robbed a man blocks away and had the victim’s wallet, Sailor said. The victim was still behind the Albertsons grocery store off 32nd Street where the alleged crime occurred minutes earlier, police said. Someone in the group pulled a 3-inch knife on the man and demanded his wallet, police said.

Newport police increased patrols on the peninsula since a man had reported being robbed there on Jan. 17, Sailor said. In that incident, a group of men threw something at the 23-year-old victim’s head, slicing it open, then demanded his wallet and cell phone. The men arrested Friday confessed to that incident while in custody, officials said.

Police said it appeared the group targeted intoxicated people walking alone from local bars.

If anyone has information about these robberies or believes they may have been a victim of a similar incident, please call (800) 550-NBPD.

— Joseph Serna