Costa Mesa man tells police that he burglarized house

A Costa Mesa man was arrested Wednesday after he admitted to police that he broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend’s mother, police said.

At 3:47 a.m., a man and woman who were housesitting in the 1600 block of White Oak Street awoke to find a man with a flashlight looking through their things, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Marty Carver said. The burglar looked up and said, “Sorry,” left the room, and left the house through a sliding glass door, Carver said. A wallet and MP3 player were taken, police said.

The owner of the home identified the alleged burglar as Brand Lee Zorn, 20, the ex-boyfriend a tenant’s daughter, Carver said.

Police contacted Zorn at his home, and he later told investigators that he knew his girlfriend and her mother were on vacation in Las Vegas this week, Carver said.

All the stolen items were recovered, Carver said.

Zorn was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary and held on $50,000 bail at Costa Mesa Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach today, Carver said.

— Kelly Strodl