A man suspected of multiple burglaries, thefts and identity thefts in Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties has been arrested, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said Friday, April 15.

Douglas Allen Schlichting, 58, was arrested on April 13 outside his home in the 300 block of Plaza Serena in the city of Ontario, Sheriff’s officials said in a news release.

From January 2022 to March 2022 Schlichting is suspected of stealing items, including credit cards, to buy jewelry, home goods and gift cards.

In Yorba Linda, a 71-year-old woman told OC Sheriff’s deputies that her credit card and $1,000 in cash was stolen from her purse at St. Martin de Porres Church on Jan. 11. Her card was charged over $800.

The following month, a 57-year-old woman reported that on Jan. 22, at the Pope John Paul II Polish Center a man stole $1,100 in cash and two credit cards from her purse. Her cards had been charged $3,128 in fraudulent purchases.

In Santa Margarita, on Jan. 20, a man entered the employee locker area of Pet Supply in the 22000 block of El Paseo and stole cash and personal items valued at $1,000.

Employees at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Mission Viejo reported items of four employees had been stolen on March 20. The victims lost $540 in cash and there was another $1,725 in fraudulent purchases charged to the victims’ credit cards.

The same week, a woman reported to deputies in Mission Viejo her credit card was stolen and charged over $500. A 55-year-old man living in Lake Forest also reported his wallet was stolen from his vehicle and his credit card was later charged multiple times. The reported loss was $4,000.

The investigation is ongoing and investigators believe there may be additional cases involving Schlichting.

The sheriff’s department only detailed thefts within their jurisdiction. Details regarding suspected thefts in the other three counties were not immediately available Friday evening.

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