California woman finds alleged serial burglar Wendy Wilkinson hiding in closet when she returns home after a week away
A “serial burglar” has been arrested after a California woman discovered the suspect hiding in her closet and armed with a pizza cutter.
Brittney Heintzman, 35, returned home Dec. 1 after a week away from the luxury Skyloft apartment complex in Irvine when she discovered her front door was unlocked and her apartment had been ransacked.
When Heintzman opened her bedroom closet, she found 43-year-old Wendy Wilkinson sitting inside with a pizza cutter, cutting board and dish towel in her hand.
A terrified resident told KTLA 5, “She just looked at me like I was a deer in headlights and I just screamed, ‘Get away!’ Get out!”
Wilkinson was later arrested for burglary and possession of stolen property and was found to have an extensive history of robbery. Wilkinson was reportedly the victim’s neighbor.
Wendy Wilkinson, 43, was arrested for burglary after she allegedly broke into Britney Heintzman’s apartment. Wilkinson also lived in a luxury apartment building.
When the victim first approached the attacker, she recalled saying, “Please don’t hurt me,” before Wilkinson ran away.
“But that pushed me away even more. I’m like, “Are you going to hurt me?” because she has a pizza cutter in her hand. I didn’t know,” Heintzman said.
After the suspect fled the apartment, Heintzman called police as she and her friend followed Wilkinson through the complex.
A nearby Ring doorbell camera captured Wilkinson running frantically through the hallways, barefoot and wearing blue leggings and a white top.
After the robbery, Heintzman told the Irvine Police Department that her television, credit cards, expensive handbags, sunglasses and other property were stolen from her home.
She also said Wilkinson used her credit card at a car wash a mile away from the complex.
Brittney Heintzman, 35, returned home after a week away to find her apartment ransacked and Wilkerson hiding in a closet with a pizza cutter, cutting board and dish towel in hand.
She added that Wilkinson took her socks, work ID and passport. Police believe the suspect had to enter her neighbors’ home several times in the past.
“Given the amount of time the victim was away and the amount of property the suspect was able to steal, we believe the suspect likely entered the home multiple times to remove items,” said Kyle Alderp with the Irvine Police Department.
Once a search warrant was obtained for Wilkinson’s home, officers found more than $30,000 worth of Heinzman’s belongings in her apartment, car and storage unit.
Court records also showed the suspect was out on bond for a separate burglary incident.
Heintzman, who moved into her apartment just a few months ago, has now decided to move due to the trauma she suffered from the incident.
“Where was the security?” I feel like I’ve just been stripped down to nothing. For someone to rummage through your every drawer, every closet, take your passport, take everything personally. “You’re left with so many questions,” Heintzman said.
Wilkinson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree residential burglary and identity theft.
The Irvine Police Department caught up with Wilkinson and arrested her for burglary. She pleaded not guilty to first-degree burglary and identity theft.
Authorities discovered that Wilkerson had just been released on bail for a separate burglary incident.
“Love your neighbor, please don’t steal from him,” the Irvine Police Department wrote on Facebook along with a photo of Wilkinson being taken away in handcuffs.
Irvine residents gathered at the post and praised the police department for successfully recovering Wilkerson and the stolen property.
The median household income in 2023 in Irvine will be $105,126 for a population of 303,051.
In October, the city of Irvine, located in Orange County, California, was named the “safest city” for the 18th year in a row.