Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's town 'rocked by crime'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in the A-list town of Montecito, California, which has been hit by a number of crimes including a dogging incident near their home
After stepping back from Royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made their home in the celebrity enclave of Montecito. This Californian town is one of the most affluent areas in the States, boasting residents like Oprah Winfre y, Ellen DeGeneres, and Orlando Bloom.
Yet, even in upscale Montecito, crime rears its head, with a local news outlet reporting a salacious incident early in May. The Montecito Journal disclosed that a police officer caught someone on probation "engaged in sexual intercourse inside a parked vehicle" at about 11pm on Friday, May 2.
Cocaine was also found in the suspect's wallet during a search by the authorities. This scandalous event occurred on Channel Drive, a mere stone's throw – under three miles – from Harry and Meghan's private abode on Rockbridge Road.
In an earlier chat with The Cut, Meghan expressed how much the couple had wanted their home: "Because you walk in and go... Joy. And exhale. And calm. It's healing. You feel free.", reports the Express.
The Sussexes forked out $14.65m (£10.9m) for their retreat, which is now believed to be worth twice that amount. Beyond the recent risqué rendezvous, the Montecito Journal has noted additional misdemeanours in the vicinity over the past month, including an assault on two individuals on the street around 7pm on Tuesday, April 29.
A man reportedly stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road, shouting at the victims about trespassing before getting out and grabbing one of them by the collar. When the other victim attempted to step in, the suspect seized him by the collar and kicked him. The suspect fled the scene, prompting a police investigation.
In a separate incident, a burglary was reported at a property on Olive Mill Road on Friday, 2 May. This location is less than two miles, or a five-minute drive, from the Sussexes' home. According to the report, a Glock pistol and high-end chairs were stolen from a locked storage container in the back garden. No arrests have been made in connection with the burglary.
It was previously reported by the Express that the Montecito neighbourhood had been hit by a string of other crimes, including a vehicle break-in and a resident reporting a suspicious individual "knocking on windows and looking into properties".
Detective Anthony Nunez of the Special Crime Division revealed that gangs, primarily from Chile and Venezuela, were responsible for the burglaries in the area, typically consisting of three or four men and women working together. He explained: "They conduct surveillance prior to the robbery to figure out your pattern of being at home and being away. [Then] they place cameras on the properties they are targeting.
"They are highly skilled and are in and out in three minutes, targeting primary bedrooms' safe boxes and jewellery. They use signal jammers to stop your alarms, cell phones and home video surveillance [and] sell the stolen items back in their country of origin."
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