Third Jewel Thief Suspect Arrested in Spree of High Dollar OC Heists

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA—A 30-year-old woman wanted in connection with a spree of jewelry store burglaries in Orange County was arrested today.

Isabel Ochoa was arrested at her South El Monte home on a warrant charging her with four counts of second-degree burglary and three counts of grand theft, all felonies. Fountain Valley police arrested Victor Herrera, a 50-year-old North Hollywood resident, was arrested earlier this year in connection with two of the burglaries, making this the third

Co-defendant Victor Manuel Barba Herrera, 49, pleaded not guilty in March and was next due in court Aug. 31 on four counts of second-degree burglary and three counts of grand theft, all felonies.

They are accused of burglarizing Tustin Village Jewelers, Diamonds Direct in Laguna Hills, Nick's Jewelry and Watch Craft in Fullerton and Mimi's Jewelry and Ballard and Ballard Jewelry in Fountain Valley.

The burglars got into the businesses through the roof and cut open safes to steal expensive jewelry, according to Fountain Valley police Sgt. Tony Luce, who declined to release the approximate value of the gems.

The burglaries were committed on April 19 and June 28, 2014, and Oct. 10 and Nov. 1, 2015. No jewelry was ever recovered from these thefts.

She is currently being held in Orange County Jail, and held on $2 million bail.

Photo Courtesy of the Fountain Valley Police Department