An Irvine hiker came back from the trail to a nasty surprise when a thief swiped a credit card from a parked vehicle and allegedly used it for more than $1,600 in shopping at the Apple Store, according to police. Detectives say they followed the digital and video trail from the Irvine Spectrum to Hollywood, where they arrested a suspect. Officers are using the case as a not‑so‑subtle reminder not to leave valuables in your car, even for a quick hike.
How detectives followed the purchases
According to a Facebook post from the Irvine Police Department, the theft happened on June 3, when the victim left a credit card inside a vehicle before heading out on a trail. Security staff at the Irvine Spectrum later reviewed surveillance footage that showed the stolen card being used to make more than $1,600 in purchases at the Apple Store.
Detectives tracked those transactions, pulled images from the store’s video, and identified a suspect. Police then arrested 55‑year‑old Hernan Reyes Correa of Los Angeles in Hollywood on suspicion of identity theft, according to the department’s post.
Where the purchases happened
Investigators say the charges were rung up at the Apple Store in Irvine Spectrum Center. Apple lists the store’s address as 930 Spectrum Center Drive in Irvine, and the official retail page confirms the Spectrum Center location and contact details.
Police advice for hikers and shoppers
In its Facebook post, the Irvine Police Department urged anyone heading to trails or busy shopping centers to take valuables with them and lock their vehicles. Investigators also asked that anyone with surveillance footage or information that could help the case contact police.
What this means for locals
The case underscores how fast a stolen card can be turned into high‑end merchandise and how store surveillance can follow a suspect across city lines. For Irvine hikers and shoppers, the takeaway is simple: keep keys, wallets, and phones on you, not in the car, and report suspicious activity to local police before a quick outing turns into hours of paperwork.
