CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:Debit-card fraud caught on tape

Police got a lead in the credit-fraud case at the Ralphs store in Huntington Beach when a surveillance camera got an image of a man using a debit card number that was stolen there in October to make a withdrawal from a Redondo Beach automatic teller machine.

Since October, nearly 70 people reported unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts, ranging from $300 to $700 at a time, Lt. Craig Junginger said Tuesday. About $91,000 was taken from the bank accounts of those customers who shopped at the Ralphs at 19081 Goldenwest St., police said.

It’s possible that the stolen card information and personal identification numbers were sold, which would explain why some numbers were used in California and Arizona. Ralphs has since replaced every card-pay terminal at that store.

Police said the man using the Redondo Beach ATM has a dark complexion and is in his mid-20s. They ask that anyone with information call Huntington Beach Police at (714) 375-5066.

Local bikers ride for peace

A group of Huntington Beach motorcyclists plan to make their annual 420-mile road trip to Santa Cruz on Jan. 6 as part of the second “Surf City to Surf City Goodwill Ride.” The trip is the brainchild of Dan Traxler, who doubles as a tax attorney. He has said he doesn’t care about the legendary rivalry between the two surfing Meccas in California.

For decades, Huntington Beach and Santa Cruz have quibbled over which city is the true Surf City, but things heated up last year when Huntington Beach officials announced plans to trademark the name and begin marketing a “Surf City, USA” product line that includes beach towels, cruiser bikes and swimwear.

A Bay-area law firm filed a suit in October on behalf of two Santa Cruz businesses, saying the “Surf City USA” trademark obtained by the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau is invalid. The firm is also asking the California Superior Court to cancel the bureau’s pending trademark applications.

About 30 bikers are set to drive the distance. The group includes bikers from Riverside, Torrance and Fountain Valley. The group hopes to meet up with Northern California riders and drive together to the Santa Cruz wharf.

Since then, the bureau’s branding effort with the “Surf City, USA” trademark is set to reap huge monetary rewards. Since November 2004, the number of tourists visiting Huntington Beach has swelled, resulting in a 62% increase in hotel taxes, according to the bureau. Hotel tax revenues grew to about $2.2 million, and the bureau estimates in the next three years it will increase up to $6 million to $10 million.

Hilton Waterfront Resort renovation’s done

The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach showed off its newly renovated rooms and suites late Thursday with a hip, ultra-modern look. All of the 290 guest rooms, including 24 oceanfront suites, have been made over to reflect a home-like but luxurious feel. Local commissioned artists created about 100 pieces of original art along with custom-made and design furniture and fixtures, Hilton spokeswoman Genevieve Anton said.

The furniture ranges from chic and modern with lots of space and comfort in the hotel room. If you were to get up in the middle of the night for a restroom break, a light underneath the table comes on to light your way.

A touch lamp removes the need for switches — just touch the lamp base or the top and the light is dimmed or increased. The furniture now includes an ergonomic chair designed by Herman Miller, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, marbled entryways, 125 signed artworks by local artist Heidi Burkhardt and custom inlaid surfboards mounted in mahogany frames.

Besides the room improvements, the Hilton also redid its West Coast Club. Well-known designers have brought in warm colors and lamps to create an amazing ambience for a wine-pairing dinner, a cigar and martini cocktail party or transform it into an edgy nightclub with valet service, a full bar, private patio, dance floor and cuisine by executive chef Jeff Littlefield.

The renovation also extends to the Hilton’s signature restaurant, the Palm Court, which was reinvented as a high-end steak and seafood restaurant. Chandeliers in burnt-orange and gold and burnished metallic colors stand out in the restaurant. For more information visit waterfrontresort.com or call (714) 845-8000.

Taking stock of two local companies’ fortunes

Huntington Beach-based companies Quiksilver Inc. and BJ’s Restaurants Inc. were recently removed from the “Most Dangerous Stocks” list put together by research firm New Constructs. Sports apparel and gear maker Quiksilver was dropped from the company’s top 20 “Most Dangerous Stocks” after other companies did worse in the category than Quiksilver.

BJ’s Restaurants was removed from the list without any stated reason. New Constructs assigns a company’s stock to its dangerous list based on deceptive earning reports as well as the cash flow of the companies it examines. Other Orange County companies still remaining on the list are Irvine’s Sun Healthcare Group and Skyworks Solutions.

Website for film scouts

Huntington Beach is set to be a film-friendly city besides being a worldwide tourist destination if all goes well with a website to be unveiled in the next couple of months by the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau. The website will offer a catalog of about 25 locations in the city where film and video crews can make movies, television programs and commercials.

The web resource is set to provide information about the city and showcase pictures of Central Park, historic buildings, the pier, beach and sports venues. The bureau is putting together the website in a joint effort with the city’s Community Services Department. Film scouts looking for permit information would be able to access the Film Permit Office directly although the city would have the final say over the process.

Proceeds from the film permits will be donated to the Huntington Beach Art Center. The upcoming website will be available at filmhuntingtonbeach.com.