BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Woman allegedly mugged after grocery shopping

Laguna Beach police are looking for a man who allegedly mugged a woman about 6 p.m. May 28 in the 200 block of Cleo Street, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

The woman had been shopping at Ralphs on the 700 block of South Coast Highway. She was carrying groceries to her car on Cleo Street when a man approached from behind and allegedly hit her in the face. He then allegedly grabbed $25 worth of groceries and a blue hooded windbreaker, valued at $12, and fled. The victim drove herself to South Coast Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Man reportedly steals car after exchange of face slaps

A woman who drove a male acquaintance to Laguna Beach told police he stole her car at 7:28 a.m. May 29, Kravetz said.

The two got into an argument at Gaviota and St. Ann’s drives, and were observed slapping each other, according to police records. While the woman was on her cellphone, the man allegedly reached into her pants pocket and removed her car key. He got into her white, 2004 Toyota Matrix and allegedly drove off while she tried to stop him, Kravetz said. Detectives are working on the case.

Man accused of taking cash, Rolex at Aliso Creek Inn

A man who wanted to go into the restaurant business ended up losing a large sum of money and his Rolex at the Aliso Creek Inn at 8:16 a.m. May 31, Kravetz said.

The man met his prospective partner at a restaurant in San Mateo. The suspect came to Laguna Beach and contacted the victim about the endeavor. The victim went to the suspect’s hotel room with his wife and a large sum of money, Kravetz said.

The victim left the cash, a laptop and a Rolex in the hotel room before he went home. The next morning the suspect was gone, along with his property.

Man suspected of stealing hotel chair during wedding

A Mission Viejo man was arrested on suspicion of grand theft after he and another man allegedly walked out of the Surf and Sand Hotel with a chair worth $2,500 during a wedding at 10:09 p.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

Security spotted the men as they were crossing South Coast Highway and followed the suspects, who eventually dropped the chair in the 200 block of Bluebird Canyon Drive and ran. Paul Donat, 31, was found hiding in a parking lot and arrested. Investigators are trying to identify the second suspect.

Elderly Lagunan thinks he may have been defrauded

Police are investigating the possible defrauding of an elderly Laguna Beach man who sent large sums of cash to a man in Florida, believing he was paying off a debt, Kravetz said.

A clerk at Pavilions, where the man was sending money via Western Union over a period of months, became suspicious and called police.