California woman finds alleged serial burglar Wendy Wilkinson hiding in closet when she returns home after a week away

A 'serial burglar' has been arrested after a California woman found the suspect hiding in her closet and armed with a pizza cutter. 

Brittney Heinzman, 35, returned home after a week away to the luxury Skyloft Apartments complex in Irvine on December 1 when she discovered her front door unlocked and her apartment raided. 

When Heinzman opened her bedroom closet, she found Wendy Wilkinson, 43, crouched down inside with a pizza cutter, cutting board and kitchen towel in hand. 

The terrified tenant told KTLA 5: 'She just looked at me like a deer in headlights and I just screamed, 'Get out! get out!'' 

Wilkinson was later arrested for burglary and possession of stolen property and was found to have an extensive robbery record. Wilkinson was reportedly a neighbor to the victim. 

When the victim first approached the intruder, she recalled her saying 'Please don't hurt me' before Wilkinson ran off. 

'But that just threw me off more. I'm like, 'Are you going to hurt me?' because she has a pizza cutter in her hand. I didn't know,' Heinzman said. 

After the suspect fled the apartment, Heinzman called the police as she and a friend followed Wilkinson through the complex. 

A nearby Ring doorbell camera captured footage of Wilkinson running frantically around the hallways, barefoot with blue leggings and a white crop top. 

After the robbery, Heinzman told the Irvine Police Department that her TV, credit cards, high-end purses, sunglasses and other property were snatched from her home. 

She also revealed that Wilkinson used her credit card at a car wash a mile away from the complex. 

She added Wilkinson took her socks, work ID and passport. Police believe the suspect had to have entered her neighbors home multiple times in the past. 

'Based on the time that the victim was away and the amount of property that the suspect was able to steal, we believe it's likely the suspect went into the residence multiple times to collect items,' Irvine Police Department's Kyle Oldoerp said. 

Once a search warrant was obtained for Wilkinson's home, officers uncovered more than $30,000 worth of Heinzman's belongings in her apartment, car and storage unit.

Court records also revealed the suspect was free on bail for a separate burglary incident. 

Heinzman who just moved into her apartment months ago has now decided to relocate due to the trauma of the incident. 

'Where was security? I feel like I've been just stripped down to nothing. To have somebody go through your every drawer, your every cabinet, take your passport, take everything personal. You're just left with so many questions, Heinzman said. 

Wilkinson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree residential burglary and identity theft.  

'Love thy neighbor, please don't steal from them,' Irvine Police Department posted on Facebook along with a photo of Wilkinson being taken away in handcuffs. 

Irvine residents flocked to the post and praised the police department for their successful recovery of Wilkerson and the stolen goods.

The median household income for 2023 in Irvine is $105,126 with a population of 303,051.

In October, the city of Irvine, located in Orange County, California, was declared 'the safest city' for the 18th year in a row.