Passed out man leads police to stolen checks

Santa Ana police have arrested three men accused of stealing outgoing mail from three Corona del Mar homes, among others, police said.

The three Santa Ana men, Jaime Cabrera, 28, Dennis Tanjuaquio, 27, and John Orcino, 27, were arrested Monday just before midnight at a Motel 6 in Santa Ana after police were called about a man who appeared knocked out in the motel lobby. The man turned out to be a sleeping Cabrera, who showed police to his room after some brief questioning, Santa Ana Police Commander Steve Colonsaid.

Inside, police found a check-washing operation and stolen mail and checks from a number of addresses, including the three from Corona del Mar, police said.

Outgoing bills were stolen from mailboxes in the 400 block of Iris Avenue, 600 block of Marguerite Avenue and 1200 block of Keel Drive Monday night, Newport Beach Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

All three men face more than a dozen felonies related to forgery and possessing completed checks with intent to fraudulently cash them.

— Joseph Serna