On January 8, 2011, three residential burglaries and additional thefts from vehicles were discovered in a residential district across from Campolindo High School. Responding officers located a parked vehicle on Natalie Drive containing suspected stolen property. After an area search, additional stolen property was located abandoned on a hillside near the parked vehicle. The investigation revealed that the suspect had entered three homes while the occupants were inside asleep, and stole property. The parked vehicle was registered to an active parolee, who later claimed his vehcle had been stolen.

After an extensive investigation, the case was presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney. The DA filed a criminal complaint against JORAN TAYLOR FURST (pictured), charging 3 counts of first degree burglary, 1 count of petty theft with prior convictions, and 1 count of possessing stolen property. On April 1, 2011, the Moraga Police Department delivered the criminal complaint to Superior Court and obtained a felony arrest warrant for FURST. Within hours of the warrant's issuance, FURST was arrested in Pittsburg after an unrelated contact by detectives from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.

Moraga Fitness Center Day Care Worker Arrested

On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, Pornthep Suvanasarn, a 22 year-old Saint Mary's College resident student was arrested for alleged violations of Indecent Exposure and Annoying or Molesting Children, both misdemeanors. Suvanasarn is suspected of exposing himself to two five year-old children while he was working in the child care center at the 24 Hour Fitness Center in Moraga on March 14th.

Armed Robbery Behind The Rheem Valley Shopping Center

On Monday, January 24, 2011, at approximately 10:55 AM, a female victim arrived at the Moraga Police Department (MPD) and reported being robbed of her cell phone and cash behind the Rheem Valley Shopping Center. MPD and neighboring agencies responded to the location at the rear of the TJ Maxx Store and the hillside behind, looking for a white male suspect described as being in his mid-twenties, approximately 6’ tall with medium build, short brown hair, and wearing a green jacket over a black shirt and blue jeans.

The victim, a contracted employee of the Rheem Center, stated she was walking behind the store when she was approached by the suspect who produced a silver revolver, put the gun up to her face and stole her property. The suspect then ran up the hill behind the Rheem Center. The victim then went to a nearby location to call her boss, then drove to MPD to make the report.

An extensive search of the area by MPD, Orinda and Lafayette PD’s, the CHP helicopter, and a K-9 from Walnut Creek PD was negative.

If you have any information, please call the Moraga Police Department at 925-888-7055 ext. 0.

Burglary Alert

Within the first two weeks of January, the Moraga Police Department has responded to four residential burglaries and two auto burglaries. During the same period in 2010, one residential and one auto burglary were reported. While the statistical increase is cause for concern, the greater issue is that every burglary this year was preventable. In both auto burglaries, items of value were left visible inside the vehicles, which resulted in smashed windows and stolen property. In each of the residential burglaries, entry was made via unlocked doors or windows. Three of the residential burglaries occurred while residents were inside asleep. In addition to the monetary loss for each victim, there is often associated emotional stress, anger, and feelings of being violated. These mental strains are often compounded with the realization that statistically, the prospect of getting any stolen property returned is very low.

If there is anything positive that can come from the burglaries these past two weeks, it is that everyone in the Town of Moraga can learn from others’ mistakes and take immediate steps to improve their own security to protect their families, businesses, and property. Security is a mindset. Everyone has the means to secure their property by locking doors and windows, using available lighting and alarms, and hiding valuables, but without constant attention to these means, vulnerability to theft is created. Everyone must always be vigilant in personal security. Moraga is not immune to crimes of theft, and criminals will continue to expose our vulnerability until we remove all opportunities for them.

Brazen Daytime Residential Burglary on Natalie Drive

On 09/24/10, an early morning residential burglary occurred on Natalie Drive between 6:45 am and 7:45 am. The burglar entered the home by removing a screen from a partially open front window. Due to the narrow time frame, it appears the burglar was in the area watching for an opportunity to burglarize a home. Orinda Police have investigated similar burglaries in their city.

Please make sure you secure your home anytime you are away, even if for a short period. Keep an eye out for suspicious persons or vehicles, and notify police dispatch immediately if you see something that seems out of place.

Working together, we can make Moraga a safer community.