Police make second arrest in jewelry store burglaries

Fountain Valley Police have arrested a second suspect in the burglaries of several jewelry stores, including Mimi’s Jewelry and Ballard & Ballard Jewelry in Fountain Valley.

Police today arrested Isabel Ochoa, 30, at her residence in South El Monte, Sgt. Tony Luce said.

Following an extensive investigation, police obtained an arrest warrant for Ochoa and charged her with four counts of burglary and conspiracy.

Luce said the burglaries occurred in 2015 at Ballard & Ballard, Mimi’s, Nick’s Jewelry in Fullerton and Diamonds Direct in Laguna Hills.

Ochoa’s co-defendant, Victor Herrera, was arrested by Fountain Valley detectives earlier this year and charged with the same crimes, Herrera is still awaiting trial.

During all four burglaries, the suspects forced entry via the roof. The safes were then cut open and a large amount of high-end jewelry and loose jewels were stolen.

The property has not been recovered. Ochoa was booked into Orange County Jail and is being held on $2 million bail.A