Wanted man is arrested in Vegas

A man Newport Beach police suspect who stole more than $1 million in a string of high-profile burglaries was arrested in Nevada after he led Las Vegas police on a high-speed chase in a red Ford Mustang convertible, authorities said Thursday.

Nevada law enforcement officers arrested Richard William Abbott, 45, on Wednesday night on the I-15 Freeway heading out of Las Vegas after he sped away from a police officer who spotted his GT500 convertible with a black top in the casino district of the city, Las Vegas Officer Barbara Morgan said.

Police knew Abbott was wanted in connection with burglaries of high-end homes in Newport Beach and were on the lookout Wednesday for Abbott’s car, Morgan said.

Law enforcement officials had suspected Abbott might hide around Las Vegas because he likes to gamble, according to Newport Beach Police Sgt. Evan Sailor.

Abbott ran several red lights in Las Vegas when an officer tried to approach his car and headed out of the city southbound on the I-15 freeway toward California at a high rate of speed, Morgan said.

A Las Vegas police helicopter followed Abbott’s car onto the freeway, where he eventually pulled over and surrendered to police, she said.

“He immediately identified himself as Richard Abbott,” Morgan said.

Police found bottles of prescription drugs in Abbott’s car that didn’t belong to him when he was arrested, Morgan said.

Abbott is being held in Nevada on suspicion of evading a police officer and possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription, Morgan said.

Investigators believe Abbott broke into a Newport home in October after they identified DNA from blood left at the scene of the crime, Sailor said.

Police believe Abbott likes to target rich neighborhoods and break into homes through skylights or windows to steal jewelry, cash and firearms, Newport Beach Lt. Craig Fox said.

Police suspect Abbott is responsible for three burglaries in Newport Beach and also could have been involved in burglaries in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Abbott could be extradited to California after facing charges in connection to his Las Vegas arrest.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].