Stolen Laguna Beach loot recovered

A Costa Mesa man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of stealing more than half a million dollars’ worth of property from around Orange County, including multiple burglaries in Laguna Beach.

Childrens’ Christmas gifts were among the stolen items recovered, according to police.

Laguna Beach police say they obtained a search warrant and worked with Irvine detectives to recover the stolen property from James Fraser, 45.

Police searched Fraser’s vehicles and home, and estimate the goods to be in excess of $500,000.

Additional allegedly pilfered items were recovered from a Santa Ana storage unit linked to Fraser, who works in construction, according to Orange County Sheriff booking records.

“They hit pay dirt,” Laguna Beach Police Captain Paul Workman said.

Irvine police made the arrest while Laguna Beach police served the search warrant. Laguna Beach police obtained the permit after investigating the burglaries and putting Fraser under surveillance.

According to a Laguna Beach police statement, the department had been investigating the series of residential burglaries since June.

Included in the loot were two motorcycles and children’s Christmas gifts.

There were also electronics, guns, knives, paintings, golf clubs, GPS systems, computers, flat screen televisions and computers.

Investigators also found a small amount of methamphetamine.

“The guy clearly is a high-level burglar with the volume of stolen material,” Workman said.

Police don’t know how many burglaries were committed, but they will be compiling the case against Fraser as investigators work to identify the stolen material and link them to individual heists.

Police also arrested Michael Backman, 41, of Capistrano Beach at Fraser’s home. Backman was arrested for parole violation.

Fraser pleaded guilty to separate counts of receiving stolen property in 1996 and 1997.

He was also convicted of first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary and petty theft in 2001.

Fraser is being held in Orange County Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana, without bail.