A suspect was allegedly caught loitering with 11.5g of meth just three miles away from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s luxurious Californian mansion. The pair settled in the town of Montecito after stepping away from their royal responsibilities in 2020.
Despite being a hotspot for A-list celebrities such as Orlando Bloom and Oprah Winfrey, the area is not without its share of crime. According to local news website Montecito Journal, a suspect was arrested after being caught with drugs and paraphernalia near a property’s gate on Friday, May 30. The incident took place on Fairway Drive which is located three miles, or an eight minute drive, from the Sussexes’ secluded mansion on Rockbridge Road.
The Montecito Journal said: “Subject was loitering near the property’s gate. Subject was contacted and found to be in possession of 11.5 grams of meth and paraphernalia. He was arrested & booked at SBJ.”
Just two days earlier, a suspect was arrested for wire fraud. They allegedly received $32,000 for two BMW vehicles but never delivered them to the buyer.
The Montecito Journal said the suspect was arrested on Colville Street. This is just a short walk away from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s home, according to Google.
Their mansion cost $14.65m (£10.9m) and Meghan previously said they did “everything we could to get this house”. She added: “Because you walk in and go… Joy. And exhale. And calm. It’s healing. You feel free.”
As well as the recent incidents, a local police officer also spotted a “suspect on probation engaged in sexual intercourse inside a parked vehicle” in Montecito at the start of May. They were also found in possession of cocaine after being searched.
In April, two people were attacked on the street and the suspect fled the scene. It was reported that one of the victims was grabbed by the collar while the other was kicked.
A home burglary was also reported on Olive Mill Road, less than two miles from the Sussexes’ home, at the start of May. An investigation was launched by the local police force.
