Police arrest burglary suspect

A Costa Mesa man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of stealing more than $500,000 worth of property in a series of heists around Orange County, including multiple burglaries in Laguna Beach.

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

Laguna Beach police said 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 some of the stolen goods were recovered from a Santa Ana storage unit linked to Fraser, who worked in construction, according to authorities and booking records.

Irvine police arrested Fraser while Laguna Beach police served the search warrant. Laguna Beach police obtained the permit after investigating the burglaries and putting Fraser under surveillance, authorities said. Laguna police had been investigating the rash of home burglaries since June.

Investigators also recovered electronics, guns, knives, paintings, golf clubs, GPS systems, computers, flat-screen televisions and computers, and even a small amount of methamphetamine.

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

Police said they 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 a parole violation, police said.

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.

JOSH ADEN may be reached at (714) 966-4609 or by e-mail at [email protected].