Store clerks suspicious of shoppers who repeatedly purchased high-dollar amount gift cards in a local market led to the arrest of three people in Laguna Beach and a fourth in North Hollywood last week, suspect in a conspiracy using stolen credit cards to commit theft and burglary, police said.
Police recovered 49 Apple gift cards worth $19,000 in the vehicle used by three of the suspects and $9,000 in cash from a hotel room in North Hollywood where a suspected accessory was arrested, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said. “We’re glad the grocery store called us.”
Kleiser explained how the con works: Crooks use fraudulent credit cards to purchase gift cards until the issuer inactivates them. Then thieves redeem the gift cards for merchandise, such as a $400 iPhone, which is later returned to the store for cash.
One of the fraudulent cards belonged to a resident of Turkey, said Kleiser.
Store clerks called police about 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, when the suspects made repeated purchases at the register, said Kleiser. Detectives found receipts from three different markets in their car as well as several fraudulent credit cards and six grams of pot, he said.
In Laguna, police arrested Mekka Thibedeaux-Harris, 21, of Compton, along with David Dorismond and Barrington Wright, both 20, of Brooklyn, N.Y., charging each with burglary, theft and conspiracy, Kleiser said.
Los Angeles police, watching a hotel at the request of Laguna police, arrested Fredly Gontrand, 26, of North Hollywood, for suspicion of felony accessory on Saturday, Oct. 17. He told police he had been directed to retrieve cash from the room, Kleiser said.
Monday, Oct 12
Grand theft. 1600 block of Bluebird Canyon Dr. 8 a.m. No signs of forced entry were found on a car where a laptop computer had disappeared.
Disorderly person. 300 block of Forest Ave. 12:43 p.m. Philip Krohn, 48, a Laguna Beach transient, was arrested for allegedly threatening harm to a person with a rock. Bail was set at $50,000.
Tuesday, Oct. 13
Vandalism. 1400 block of S. Coast Hwy. 1:22 p.m. Curtis Miles, 35, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of felony vandalism after a witness observed him break a glass office door. Bail was set at $20,000.
License plate reader. Laguna Canyon Rd. Four patrol cars converged on a gas station to detain Allison Norean Cashman, 39, and George M. Loturco, 49, both of San Clemente, for suspicion of auto theft. Bail was set at $20,000.
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Petty theft. 300 Locust Dr. 8 a.m. A makeup bag containing drugs was taken from an unlocked car.
Burglary. 400 block of Locust St. 8:23 a.m. Thieves entered a home and stole a 24-piece silver flatware set, a quartz box and others items cumulatively worth $16,000.
Battery. 700 block of S. Coast Hwy. 10:01 p.m. Ahmed Daniel Noutfia, 29, of Montclair, was arrested for an outstanding warrant and public intoxication.
Traffic collision. 30700 block of Coast Hwy. 11:25 p.m. A scooter driver lost control and fell while trying to avoid a stopped car. He complained of ankle pain and was transported for treatment.
Traffic collision. Thalia St. 1:41 p.m. A vehicle making a left turn grazed the arm of a pedestrian, who escaped injury.
Thursday, Oct. 15
Grand theft. 400 block of Dartmoor St. 3 p.m. Construction materials disappeared from a job site after a homeowner fired a contractor that hadn’t completed work.
Friday, Oct. 16
Grand theft. 400 block of Poplar St. 12:11 p.m. A local musician packing up after playing a gig left a $5,000 guitar behind. When he returned, it was gone.
Drunk driving. Bluebird Canyon. 3:39 p.m. A 26-year-old Laguna Hills woman was arrested for giving false information to police.
Traffic collision. 500 block of N. Coast Hwy. 10:20 p.m. A 26-year-old San Diego woman hit a parked car and veered to the right, colliding into a storefront. Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved, police say.
Saturday, Oct. 17
Lifeguard rescue. 31500 Bluff Dr. 1:09 p.m. Three teens being pushed towards rocks by high surf yelled for help and were extracted from the water within nine minutes.
Speed race. N. City limits. 1:26 p.m. A blue Porsche racing a black Lamborghini clocked at 92 mph east of El Morro were both stopped at Aster Street and the drivers cited.
Fraud. 800 block of Manzanita Dr. 3 p.m. A resident’s information was used to open several accounts.
Vehicle burglary. 200 block of Lower Cliff Dr. 3 p.m. Fishing gear worth $1750 disappeared in the last week.
Stolen vehicle. S. Coast Hwy. 7:35 p.m. Damien John Hess, 37, of Rancho Santa Margarita, was arrested for suspicion of vehicle theft, detained driving an Irvine rental car overdue by a month. The passengers, including three kids, went home by Uber.
Traffic collision. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. An outbound vehicle collided with a car exiting a parking lot. One driver was hospitalized for complaint of pain.
Drunk driving. S. Coast Hwy. 11:27 p.m. Dustin Yrizarry, 26, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested for suspicion of hit and run, resisting arrest and DUI after he and a passenger abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot following a collision with two parked cars.
Sunday, Oct. 18
Traffic collision. Motorcycle vs. pedestrian. 12:01 a.m. Bluebird Canyon Rd. A 38-year-old Laguna resident allegedly crossing Coast Highway against a red light was struck by a motorcyclist, 38, of San Clemente. Both suffered minor injuries.
Burglary. 400 block of Thalia St. 12:34 a.m. A resident reported an attempted break-in at an upstairs window, but the suspect had fled by the time officers arrived.
Traffic stop. 1700 block of Laguna Canyon rd. 1:34 a.m. A 44-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita man was cited for DUI.
Pedestrian stop. Sunset. 2:32 a.m. Omar Delarosa, 24, and Katelyn Odell Guggiberg, 21, both of Anaheim, were arrested for outstanding warrants.
