Married woman’s guest steals her ring, bracelet

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

Eric Kelly, a 46-year-old real estate businessman from Novato, had drinks with the married woman in the hotel bar around midnight Tuesday, police said.

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

The woman, whom police declined to name, went to the bathroom to “get ready,” Wadkins said, which is when Kelly stole her bracelet and wedding ring, valued at about $2,100 combined.

Police found the jewelry in Kelly’s room, which they located through his bar receipts. Kelly told police the woman gave the jewelry to him, Wadkins said. Kelly was booked into Orange County Jail Wednesday and charged with grand theft and possession of stolen property. He is set to be arraigned today.

— Joseph Serna