A Long Beach man was arrested earlier this month in connection with the theft of bronze memorial plaques from Tustin’s Veterans’ Sports Park and similar thefts across Orange County, authorities said.
The theft occurred overnight on Jan. 20, 2026, when six plaques were removed from the park, according to the Tustin Police Department.
Detectives with the department’s Property Crimes Unit launched an investigation and identified a suspect believed to be responsible not only for the Tustin thefts, but for similar crimes across Orange County.
Investigators determined the suspect, identified as Sean Green of Long Beach, was also allegedly linked to bronze plaque thefts in Huntington Beach, Santa Ana and the city of Orange. Green was arrested on Feb. 5 by Orange police.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed 10 felony counts of grand theft and 10 felony counts of vandalism against Green, police said.
The stolen plaques were not recovered and are believed to have been recycled prior to the arrest, according to the department.
“For the Tustin community, the theft of these plaques was more than a loss of metal — it was a loss felt at a place dedicated to honor, memory, and sacrifice,” the police department said in a statement.
Authorities warned that thefts involving bronze and other valuable metals have become a recurring crime trend. Anyone with information related to metal thefts or who observes suspicious activity is encouraged to report it to local law enforcement.