IRVINE – Police have arrested a man they say was caught trying to break into cars, and his fiancé, who was reportedly waiting with two young children in a nearby vehicle.

Authorities believe the Anaheim couple arrested Tuesday morning was behind a series of car and business thefts in Irvine.

Officers just before 2 a.m. responded to reports of a man pulling on door handles of vehicles in an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Quail Ridge.

The officers detained Andrew Dalton, 32, who police say matched the suspect’s description and was carrying a window punch, gloves and a flashlight, Irvine police Lt. John Hare said.

Dalton’s fiancé, Melanie Deangelo, 31, and their two young children were sitting in his vehicle, which was parked in a nearby complex, Hare said.

A search of the vehicle turned up porcelain chips, which thieves often use to shatter car windows, Hare said, as well as property stolen in recent vehicle and business burglaries.

Police recovered GPS units, a laptop computer, several cell phones, hand tools, credit cards, identification and a checkbook, Hare said.

Police arrested Dalton on suspicion of possession of burglary tools, vehicle tampering and conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary. They arrested Deangelo on suspicion of possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary, possession of marijuana and child endangerment.

Authorities took the two children to an emergency shelter.

Six victims have been identified but police believe that others may have been affected and are encouraging nearby residents to check their vehicles and report any losses.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact detective Wayne Brannon at 949-724-7177.