Crime & Safety
Witness's Eagle Eye Leads Police to Suspected Thief
When a woman came home and spooked a burglar, a nearby man was able to get the licence plate of the getaway SUV.
A resident of Fountain Valley returned home this week to find a thief in her garage, and thanks to the eagle eye of a witness, police were able to make an arrest.
Fountain Valley police have arrested Hammoudeh Elnajjar, 26, of Fountain Valley on suspicion of residential burglary. Bail was set at $50,000.
Police believe Elnajjar was in the garage when a woman in the 17300 block of Walnut Street came home. Seeing her, he fled in a white Lexus SUV, according to a Fountain Valley Police Department press release.
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A nearby witness took down the license plate number, and officers went on the hunt, the release says. Meanwhile, the victim found the inside of her house ransacked, with a safe, U.S. currency and jewelry missing.
Police found Elnajjar in the same neighborhood.
Find out what's happening in Fountain Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Det. Avila at 714-593-4466
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