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Crime & Safety

Suspect Arrested in Connection with Open House Burglaries

Glendora PD arrest a man accused of stealing from various open houses throughout San Gabriel Valley.

Glendora Police recently arrested a man accused of pilfering costume jewelry from area open houses.

Mike Stella, 49, was arrested Nov. 10 at his girlfriend's house in Monrovia, according to Detective Josh Price of Glendora Police.

Stella allegedly stole costume jewelry from a Glendora open house and confessed to burglaries at 4-5 other open houses in Upland, San Dimas and Covina, Price said.

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Stella and his girlfriend would allegedly attend open houses and pose as buyers, police said.

"When the realtors weren't looking or while they were distracted, Mike would go into the places where jewelry was kept and he would steal wedding sets, expensive jewelry," Price said.

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Stella then pawned the jewelry at a Los Angeles-area jewelry mart, police said.

A small amount of costume jewelry was seized during the arrest.

Police said Stella signed into the open houses under the name of Mike Wilson and has posed as an Ontario Airport meteorologist and Accuweather.

A representative from the Citrus Valley Association of Realtors said Glendora Police visited their offices Wednesday, Nov. 24 with information on the arrest, but so far, no one has come forward claiming to be a victim of Stella.

Costume jewelry is mainly constructed of cheaper materials, such as plastic, glass and cubic zirconia.

No dollar amount has been determined yet and police are still trying to identify exactly what houses were burglarized by Stella, Price said.

Anyone with information on the case, or who may be a victim is asked to call Detective Josh Price at (626) 914-8286.

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