Republican Congressional Candidate Scott Baugh notes crime spreading from LA to OC.
NEWPORT BEACH — An attempted armed carjacking at the upscale Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach has reignited concerns about rising violent crime in Orange County.
The incident, during which at least one shot was fired, underscores the growing sense of unease among residents and visitors alike.
According to ABC 7, three masked suspects allegedly approached two separate victims in the Fashion Island parking lot, one in a Rolls Royce and the other in a Ferrari, in an attempted carjacking. Neither car was stolen, but the first victim was robbed of his watch and wallet while the second attempted to drive away and drew gunfire. One bullet struck the Ferrari, shattering the window and leaving the driver with small cuts from the flying glass.
All three suspects escaped in a blue Kia sedan and remain at large.
While details of the shooting remain under investigation, the incident has sparked a renewed debate about public safety and the spread of violent crime south from LA to Orange County. Critics of soft-on-crime policies argue that lax enforcement and lenient sentencing are emboldening criminals and contributing to a surge in violent offenses.
“This kind of violent crime is becoming far too common due to soft-on-crime policies,” tweeted former Assemblyman Scott Baugh, who is running to represent Newport Beach in Congress this fall. “Our communities should never have to live in fear of being attacked in public places. We must protect Orange County.” He concluded the tweet with the hashtag #NoLAinOC.
Baugh has made fighting crime a central part of his platform, having previously served as chairman of the Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership, or GRIP. He faces State Sen. David Min in the general election on November 5 to represent California’s 47th Congressional District, which includes all of Newport Beach and much of southern Orange County.
The robbery follows the murder of a tourist from New Zealand in the same parking lot, when an attempted armed robbery resulted in the 68-year-old woman being run over and dragged 65 feet by assailants. All three were apprehended by police after a car chase.
The Fashion Island incidents also come amid a national conversation about public safety and the role of law enforcement. Calls to “defund the police” since 2020 and longstanding efforts in California to decriminalize theft, reduce or eliminate bail, and shorten sentences have been followed by some increases in crime rates. They have also been met with widespread public backlash, including the successful recall of San Francisco’s progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin in 2022.
As the investigation into the attempted carjacking continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Orange County and communities across the nation.
