2 arrests in dental burglaries

If what police say is true, it’ll be a lot longer than six months before a Costa Mesa pair ever see the inside of a dentist’s office again.

In what authorities hope will be the end of a two-month string of dentist’s office burglaries, Anaheim police arrested Matthew Marchman, 38, and Shawna Lerer, 29, both of Costa Mesa, in Anaheim on Sunday morning.

Police said the two were responsible for up to 18 burglaries in Orange County, including many in Anaheim and one in Costa Mesa, that left dental offices without precious metals and basic drugs, tools and electronics. Police notified local dental offices and increased patrols in the area, officials said.

Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Anaheim police were patrolling near two dental labs when Lerer was seen sitting alone in a parked Chrysler Sebring. The officer saw Marchman walking nearby and drop a crowbar when he saw the officer, said Sgt. Rick Martinez. The officer stopped Marchman, and Lerer fled in the Sebring, police said. She was captured a short distance away.

Police found drugs and tools used in dentistry in Lerer’s car, Martinez said. Authorities found five or six flat-screen TVs and about 25 ounces of precious metals, mostly gold, Martinez said. Some of the gold was still inside the teeth that were going to be used on someone, he added. When melted down, the precious metals the pair allegedly stole are sold for about $1,200 an ounce, Martinez said.

Lerer is due in court today and is being held without bail in Orange County Jail. There was a warrant out for her arrest in San Diego County, Martinez said. Marchman is being held in Anaheim’s city jail in lieu of $250,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today.