A hair stylist at a Laguna Beach salon who was robbed of her purse at gunpoint earlier this month is likely still nursing the bruise she suffered in the attack, but on Christmas Day she received an unexpected gift: the replacement of her stolen cell phone.
Patricia Wenskunas, of Irvine-based Crime Survivors, a victim’s aid organization, who provided her with resources in the wake of the robbery, also contacted her cell provider, according to Larry Bammer, president of the Laguna Beach Police Employees’ Assoc. “When Boost Mobile heard about the victim’s violent assault and our small request, they decided to donate a new HTC cellular phone,” he said, which was delivered on Christmas Day.
Earlier, two officers who contacted the victim the night of the robbery, personally replaced the $100 in cash stolen along with her purse, which comprised her grocery money for the month, Bammer said.
The unidentified woman suffered minor pellet wound injuries after struggling with masked gunmen Dec. 8 in a parking garage at Pearl Street and Coast Highway. Three men were arrested in Westminster that evening and evidence linking the occupants to the Laguna robbery was found in their car, Sgt. Louise Callus said at the time.
