10-hour search for burglar closes Fletcher Jones Motorcars in Newport until noon; no suspect found
After about a 10-hour search, Newport Beach police were unable to find a man suspected of stealing office equipment from Fletcher Jones Motorcars early Friday.
Police responded to the luxury car dealership at 3300 Jamboree Road at about 1:30 a.m. after employees reported seeing a man stealing items, including laptop computers, from the business, said police Lt. Keith Krallman.
A police SWAT team helped search the building. Police are reviewing surveillance video in an effort to identify the man, Krallman said.
The dealership was closed until noon.
No cars were reported stolen.
An employee said Friday afternoon that he saw a file cabinet that was pried open, with its contents thrown across an office.
“I think we’re blessed to have such great city services,” said Dave Gonzalez, the dealership’s general manager. “We were concerned about the safety of our employees, so [police] did a thorough search.
“I hope they catch him,” Gonzalez said.
Because of the delayed opening, dealership employees had to call dozens of customers to reschedule service appointments. The dealership services 280 to 300 vehicles daily.
On Friday afternoon, dozens of customers were dropping off their cars for service.
Sales consultant James “J.B.” Siribandan said members of the sales team who showed up for work in the morning had breakfast at the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview hotel across the street.
“The company was really nice and they comped us,” Siribandan said.
A barista who works in the dealership’s guest lounge said she showed up for work at 5:30 a.m. and found the place surrounded by police. The Huntington Beach resident, who declined to give her name, said she was happy to spend her morning shopping for a family party set for Friday night.
“I felt very safe coming back,” she said. “Some people said it was overdone, but I think it was great.”
Daniel Langhorne is a contributor to Times Community News.
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
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