Man Arrested On Suspicion Of ID Theft, Burglary Spree In Orange County

Mission Viejo CA

16 April, 2022

2:00 PM

Description

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A 58-year-old man was arrested this week in connection with a string of burglaries, thefts and identify theft across four Southern California cities, authorities said. Douglas Allen Schlichting was arrested April 13 outside his home in the 300 block of Plaza Serena in Ontario, according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Police identified Schlichting as the suspect in multiple crimes committed between January and March in Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and Yorba Linda. In these cities, he is suspected of stealing person items, including credit cards, which were used to purchase jewelry, home goods and gift cards, officials said. Schlicting is also suspected of committing similar theft crimes across other cities in Orange County, as well as in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. In Lake Forest, around 2:30 p.m. on March 26, a 55-year-old resident reported that his wallet had been stolen from his cars and that his credit card was later charged. The reported loss was $4,000, which included a cash withdrawal and $848 in credit purchases, officials said. In Mission Viejo, just before 11 a.m. on March 20, employees of a Presbyterian Church of the Master reported that personal items of employees had been stolen. Victims reported that they lost $540 in cash and another $1,725 in credit purchases from stolen cards, according to police. Also within the city, at 10:45 a.m. on March 27, a 55-year-old woman reported fraudulent activity on her credit card totaling $517.77. She reported the crime to Mission Viejo Police Services and told police she did not know when her card was stolen, authorities reported. In Rancho Santa Margarita, on Jan. 20 around 10:30 a.m., a manager at Pet Supply reported that a man entered the employee locker area and stole cash and personal items valued at $1,000, according to police. In Yorba Linda, on Jan. 11 at 11:50 a.m., a 71-year-old woman reported that her credit card and a $1,000 in cash had been stolen the day before from her purse at St. Martin de Porres Church in the 19000 block of Yorba Linda Boulevard. Her credit card also had been charged $808, officials said. On Feb. 1, a 53-year-old woman said that a man stole $1,100 in cash and two credit cards from her purse at Pope John Paul II Polish Center. Her cards were later charged $3,128 in fraudulent purchases, authorities reported. The investigation into Schlichting was ongoing and investigators believe there may be additional theft cases linked to him. Anyone with additional information was urged to call OC Sheriff Dispatch at 717-647-7000 or send an anonymous tip to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS 855-847-6227.