The Irvine Police Department is sending a clear message to repeat offenders: if you keep coming back to commit crimes in Irvine, investigators are likely to be waiting for you.
According to Irvine Police, 43-year-old Kevin Panah of Laguna Niguel allegedly stole Dyson vacuum cleaners from the Target store at the Irvine Spectrum Center on two separate occasions. Store surveillance cameras reportedly captured both the thefts and the suspect’s vehicle license plate, allowing detectives to identify him and build a case.
Rather than immediately making an arrest, detectives reportedly continued their investigation and waited for the suspect to return. That opportunity came on October 23, when officers assigned to Irvine’s Directed Enforcement Team and Spectrum Team allegedly spotted the suspect back at the shopping center. Police detained him as he exited the nearby Marriott parking lot. According to Irvine Police, a search of his vehicle uncovered a stolen Dyson vacuum cleaner, suspected methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. He was subsequently booked into the Orange County Jail.
The Charges He Could Face
Police announced that Kevin Panah was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, possession of drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia…