Items from car break-ins found in stolen vehicle; man arrested

Costa Mesa police arrested a Santa Ana man last week on suspicion of possessing a stolen car that contained items such as wallets and prescription pills officials said were taken from parked cars in Laguna Beach, according to a news release.

A resident called Costa Mesa police Sept. 29 about a man wiping down the inside of a parked car.

Police linked the license plate to a stolen car from Westminster and tried contacting the man seen with the car, but he ran from the scene. Officers pursued and arrested Scott Callahan,25, a short distance away, police said.

Inside the car, police found passports, checkbooks, wallets, driver’s licenses, prescription pills, purses, makeup, clothing, car keys and license plates, worth more than $3,000. Authorities suspect the items were taken from unlocked cars parked on Temple Hills Drive, Dunning Drive and Viejo Street between the evening of Sept. 27 and the morning of Sept. 28.

Costa Mesa police contacted Laguna Beach detectives to help identify the property. Items have been returned to five residents so far, and authorities are investigating whether other goods belong to Newport Beach residents.

Calls placed to Costa Mesa and Westminster police departments seeking information on the type of car and the location where Callahan was spotted were not returned as of early Monday afternoon.

Callahan, who previously was convicted of auto theft, is in custody at the Orange County Jail and detectives are seeking additional theft charges in the Laguna Beach case, according to the release.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce