Police have arrested a suspect in the Hill area burglaries in Seal Beach.
However, police are encouraging residents to remain on the alert.
Seal Beach Police Department investigators made an arrest on Friday, Aug. 9, in connection with the series of burglaries that have recently been reported on “The Hill,” a neighborhood that lies between the police station and Pacific Coast Highway. Investigators made the arrest after a concerned citizen saw something unusual and reported it to police.
That information led to the identification of a possible suspect. Police were initially unable to locate the suspect, but their persistence paid off. On Friday, Aug. 9, investigators located the suspect near his home.
They uncovered information that led to the suspect’s arrest, and linked him to at least two residential burglaries in Seal Beach.
Christian Castellanos-Leiva, 18, of Long Beach, was arrested and charged with two counts of residential burglary. He was booked at the Orange County Jail, where he posted $50,000 bail. He is set to appear in court on Sept. 25.
The Hill has recently experienced a rash of residential burglaries, and police have been advising residents to secure their property and to be vigilant.
According to Sgt. Ron La Velle, public information officer for the SBPD, the arrest occurred largely because a resident was “astute enough” to notice something amiss in the neighborhood.
Residents should remain vigilant, as the investigation is ongoing. Police are working to determine if there are any outstanding suspects.
Police officials are asking anyone with any information regarding these burglaries to call Detective Gary Krogman at (562) 799-4100, extension 1108.
