Suspected paddleboard thief arrested

A Costa Mesa man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing paddleboards in Newport Beach, officials said Wednesday.

Dan Patrick Elias, 45, was taken into custody Dec. 13 and charged with possession of stolen property.

Newport Beach police said Elias was targeting locked and unsecured paddleboards from docks and residences throughout Newport over the last 10 months.

If questioned by an onlooker, Elias would say he was moving the board for a friend, police said.

Elias sold the boards on Craigslist and to local shops, police said. Detectives, posing as potential buyers, arrested Elias after acquiring a board and determining that it was stolen.

Police have since returned two stolen paddleboards and one kayak to their owners, and ask that potential victims contact Det. Christopher Kimble at (949) 644-3767.

—Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint