Police arrest man at Hilton

Police arrested a man at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa hotel early Wednesday after a woman told police that he stole her wedding ring and bracelet.

Eric Kelly, a 46-year-old real estate businessman from the Marin County city of Novato, was having drinks with the married woman in the hotel bar around midnight Tuesday, police said.

“They got flirtatious at the bar, one thing led to another, they decide to go back to her room,” said Sgt. Bryan Wadkins.

The woman, whom police declined to identify, went to the bathroom to “get ready,” Wadkins said. When she came out, Kelly, her bracelet, and her 25th anniversary wedding ring were gone.

Police tracked him down by his credit card receipts at the hotel bar. As police were searching his room, according to Wadkins, Kelly said that the woman gave him her jewelry.

Kelly was booked into Orange County Jail this morning and charged with grand theft and possession of stolen property. He is set to be arraigned Thursday.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.