UCI burglary suspects arrested

Two Long Beach residents have been arrested in connection with a string of burglaries at UC Irvine, according to university officials.

When UCI police executed search warrants at two locations in Long Beach, they found a stash of purses, wallets and credit cards that they say were stolen during campus burglaries, according to a news release.

Karim Patrece Davis, 28, and Angie Latoya Gray, 25, were arrested in connection with the crime.

Jacob Amir Qureshi, 22, and Jason Robert Walker, 28, who were with Gray and Davis, were arrested on outstanding warrants, said Jeff Hutchison, assistant police chief at UCI.

The suspects were not believed to be students, said UCI spokeswoman Laura Rico.

Police suspect the UCI thefts are connected to related crimes at Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, UCLA and other Southern California campuses.

Footage of a man police believe is Davis was captured on camera at UCLA, and the campus sent out a bulletin to other schools in the system, Hutchison said.

Because teens or crews often target similar places like campuses or malls, bulletins are sent out to neighboring campuses, and it was surveillance from campus cameras that linked the crimes, Hutchison said.

"We pulled our video and went, 'Wow! That's the same guy," Hutchison said.

On Tuesday, the Irvine Police Department began an education campaign with an "army" of about 70 volunteers aimed at teaching residents how to guard against property theft, Lt. Julia Engen said.

Neighboring Newport Beach also has seen spikes in property theft, including stolen bicycles, and launched an education campaign to remind residents to secure their property.

—Lauren Williams