Suspect caught in San Francisco

A Chinese national pleaded not guilty Thursday to burglary and grand theft of more than $50,000, and is being held without bail after he allegedly stole a Rolex watch from South Coast Plaza last month.

Shiji Chen, 41, is charged with two counts of burglary and a count of grand theft after police said he allegedly stole the watch from a high-end South Coast Plaza store Nov. 18.

Police said security cameras showed he and another man entering the store and acting as if they were going to buy something. Two other people, who haven’t been identified, distracted the store clerk while Chen stole the watch, Costa Mesa police said.

Chen was free until Nov. 28, when he was arrested in San Francisco’s Union Square trying to steal high-end jewelry there, said Sgt. Bryan Glass. Police there contacted Costa Mesa authorities, who picked him up and brought him back to Orange County.

Chen was being held on $1 million bail, but sheriff’s department records show bail was taken away at his arraignment Thursday. Chen is due back in court Thursday for a pre-trial hearing.

— Joseph Serna