Dentist Finder San Diego

Matthew Marchman 38 (left) Shawna Lerer 29 (right)

Two Costa Mesa residents were arrested Sunday on suspicion of stealing precious metals in a slew of dental laboratory robberies.

Matthew Marchman, 38, and Shawna Lerer, 29, were taken into custody in Anaheim. The pair is believed to be responsible for burglarizing 18 dental laboratories across Orange County since November.

At around 12:50 a.m. Sunday morning, a patrol officer went to check on two dental labs in the area of the 700 block of North Valley Street. As he drove around the industrial area, the officer reported seeing Lerer sitting alone in a white Chrysler Sebring and Marchman, who was on foot, discard a crowbar upon seeing the officer.

As the officer detained Marchman, Lerer took off in the white Sebring, according to Anaheim police Sgt. Rick Martinez. With the help of other patrol officers in the area and the police helicopter crew, officers were able to stop and apprehend Lerer.

Investigators say they uncovered evidence on the two suspects believed to be related to many of the dental lab burglaries. Martinez says vehicles were stolen and burned in two of the burglaries.