A California woman finds alleged serial burglar Wendy Wilkinson hiding in a closet as 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 on December 1 after a week away to the luxurious Skyloft Apartments complex in Irvine when she discovered her front door was unlocked and her apartment had been robbed.

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

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

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

Wendy Wilkinson, 43, was arrested for burglary after allegedly raiding Brittney Heinzman's apartment. Wilkinson also lived in the luxury apartment complex

When the victim first approached the intruder, she remembers saying, “Please don't hurt me,” before Wilkinson ran away.

'But that only upset me 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 police as she and a friend followed Wilkinson through the complex.

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

After the robbery, Heinzman told Irvine police that her TV, credit cards, luxury wallets, sunglasses and other belongings were taken from her home.

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

She added that Wilkinson took her socks, work ID and passport. The police assume that the suspect has entered the neighbor's home several times in the past.

“Based on the time the victim was gone and the amount of property the suspect was able to steal, we believe it is likely the suspect entered the residence multiple times to retrieve items,” said Kyle Oldoerp with the Irvine Police Department .

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

Court records also showed the suspect was out on bail for a separate burglary incident.

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

'Where was security? I feel like I've been stripped down to nothing. To have someone search your entire drawer and cupboard, take your passport, take everything personally. You're just left with so many questions, Heinzman said.

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

Irvine police caught Wilkinson and arrested him for the burglary. She pleaded not guilty to first-degree residential burglary and identity theft

Authorities discovered that Wilkerson had just been released on bail for a separate burglary incident

“Love your neighbor, please don't steal from him,” Irvine police posted on Facebook, along with a photo of Wilkinson being led away in handcuffs.

Irvine residents flocked to the post, praising police for their successful recovery of Wilkerson and the stolen property.

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

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