Irvine Police Department Press Release

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
1 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, CA 92606
irvinepd.org

08/02/2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release #:
08-02-2016
Contact:
Mike Hallinan
949-724-7110
mhallinan@cityofirvine.org

Irvine Police Arrest Two Men for Residential Burglary and Identity Theft

Irvine, CA – The Irvine Police Department has arrested two men for burglary, identity theft, possession of stolen property and narcotic related offenses. Ben Vartanian, 30, of Costa Mesa and John Wolcott, 25, of Newport Beach, were taken into custody following a traffic stop.

On July 30, 2016 at 2:00p.m., officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Rockefeller regarding a burglary that occurred at the residence sometime in the early morning hours. The loss was computer equipment and credit cards. During the investigation, the victim reported the credit cards were actively being used at multiple locations in Tustin, Anaheim, Santa Ana and Irvine. The last charge was at a Walmart in Irvine. At the same time the crime report was being taken, patrol officers conducted a traffic stop near the area of a Walmart.  During the traffic stop, officers discovered the two men inside the vehicle were in possession of the stolen property from the residential burglary on Rockefeller, as well as narcotics.  Other stolen property from the Quail Hill neighborhood was also located inside the suspects’ vehicle.

Both men were booked at the Orange County Jail for burglary, identity theft and narcotic related offenses.

If you have any information about this case, please contact IPD Detective Alex Kim at 949-724-7199.

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