Burglars Gain Access With Subterfuge
A woman apparently working with a male accomplice distracted the attention of two homeowners in North Laguna in the early evening hours of Tuesday, Feb. 22, allowing her cohort to enter their unsecured homes and flee with valuables.
An elderly woman in the 400 block of Locust Street was stopped by a female, who told her she was there doing flood-related clean-up work. During the conversation, someone else entered the resident’s home and made off with an expensive silver set, Sgt. Louise Callus said.
About 90 minutes earlier at 6:30 p.m., another elderly homeowner was approached in the 1600 block of Hillcrest Drive by a woman that said she hit a retaining wall and wanted someone to look at it. While the homeowner was distracted by the ruse, a man with an 8 or 9-year-old boy entered the home and stole $2,000 worth of jewelry, Callus said.
Monday, Feb. 21
Disturbance. 10:34 a.m. Bluebird and Coast Highway. A 21-year-old from Costa Mesa was cited for reckless driving and lane straddling.
Burglary. 3:56 p.m. 31700 block of Scenic Drive. Tools valued at $500 were stolen from an unsecured carport.
Vehicle burglary. 9:21 p.m. 800 block of Van Dyke Drive. Someone broke into a locked vehicle and stole two computers valued at $5,000.
Tuesday, Feb. 22
Vandalism. 8:16 a.m. 300 block of S. Coast Highway. A window valued at $1,000 was broken at a business.
Disturbance. 7:30 p.m. 200 block of Forest Avenue. Jason Eugene Sherman, 38, of Laguna Beach was arrested for suspicion of felony vandalism after allegedly breaking a $500 statue outside a restaurant. He was chased down and held by the owner until police arrived to arrest him.
Wednesday, Feb. 23
Traffic stop. 12:20 a.m. West and Coast Highway. A 34-year-old Hawthorne man was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Stolen vehicle. 2:43 a.m. 31500 block of Egan Road. A resident heard someone pushing away a vintage red dirt bike from a driveway.
Petty theft. 8:38 a.m. 600 block of Agate Street. A camera, $30 in quarters, a dog bed and beef jerky were taken from an unlocked car.
Fraud. 1:15 p.m. 400 block of Mermaid. A resident discovered a $24 unauthorized charge on his credit card.
Vehicle burglary. 9 p.m. MHLB. Thieves stole a computer from a locked car.
Thursday, Feb. 24
Traffic stop. 1:55 a.m. Vista del Sol. Orange resident Katherine Marie Gramolglia, 31, of Orange, was arrested allegedly in possession of 13 hydrocodone pills without a prescription. She was held on $20,000 bail.
Stalking. 11:34 a.m. 300 block of Forest Avenue. A customer told a store clerk she had been followed from several stores by a man, who eventually boarded a bus.
Search warrant. 2:59 p.m. 300 block of Third Street. Ross Earl Embry, 61, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of submitting a false medical claim and furnishing marijuana or hash. Bail for the felony charge was set at $20,000.
Obscene material. 6;50 P.M. 1500 block of Glenneyre Street. A Laguna Beach man was arrested for allegedly possessing obscene material after a brief investigation. Joshua Lucas Kube, 32, was arrested after his cell phone, containing pictures that included nude minors, was turned over to police, Sgt. Callus said. Kube, who was working as a hotel valet, apparently dropped his cell phone in the car of a guest that attempted to determine its owner and saw and reported the pictures. Bail was set at $20,000.
Traffic stop. 10:49 p.m. Mountain and Coast Highway. A 32-year-old Massachusetts man was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Friday, Feb. 25
Traffic stop. 12:26 a.m. Coast and Ocean Avenue. A 50-year-old Florida man was arrested for DUI and held for bail of $2,500.
Traffic stop. 1:17 a.m. 1300 block of Catalina Street. A 59-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Traffic stop. 3:54 a.m. Diamond Street. A 23-year-old Bell resident was cited and held for $2,500 bail.
Traffic stop. 8:56 a.m. 1200 block of Temple Hills Drive. Robert Victor Balacek, 72, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence as well as an outstanding warrant issued after a Jan. 21 DUI arrest. He was held for $50,000 bail due to prior convictions.
Grand theft. 1:11 p.m. 2300 block of Hillview. A newly delivered $2,000 laptop was taken from a porch.
Grand theft 1:59 p.m. 200 block of Cypress. About 15 orchids, ginger and bromeliads were stolen from a neighbor’s yard.
Traffic stop. 11:18 p.m. Canyon Acres. Joshua E. Ross, 23, of Costa Mesa, was arrested for allegedly possessing heroin for sale after an officer observed a loaded syringe coming out of his pocket and a furtive move to hide something under his leg. Police recovered heroin and $900 in cash. Bail was set at $20,000. His passenger, Page Corinne Warren, 21, Aliso Viejo, was also arrested for being in possession of heroin.
Saturday, Feb. 26
Traffic stop. 2:52 a.m. 2900 block of Laguna Canyon Road. A 32-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita woman was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Medical aid. 1:42 p.m. 2000 block of Crestview Drive. A 12-year-old boy skateboarder broke a leg after losing control and striking a curb. Friends there said he was unfamiliar with the board.
Public intoxication. 8:35 p.m. 300 block of Broadway. Kenneth Seguin, 55, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for a warrant for making threats. Bail was set at $40,000.
Traffic accident. 11:21 p.m. 600 block of S. Coast Highway. A 16-year-old driver who had been drinking and was talking on her cell phone collided with a parked car and rolled her vehicle. She escaped injury. Traffic lanes were closed for an hour.
Sunday, Feb. 27
Fraud. 12:30 p.m. 400 block of Holly Street. Someone opened an account in the resident’s name, ringing up $2,000 in charges.
Vandalism. 6:24 a.m. 600 block of Brooks Street. Home and cars were egged.
