Thief returns stolen goods and runs away

A man who stole a cell phone and $400 from a woman’s purse in a Laguna Beach bar early Monday returned the items to her before getting away, Laguna Beach police said.

The woman and her friends caught up with the man at Coast Highway and Forest Avenue, where he returned the stolen items, Sgt. Louise Callus wrote in an email.

The manager of the Saloon, at 446 S. Coast Hwy., reported the theft at 12:27 a.m. Monday, according to the police log.

Officers responding to Park and Forest avenues tried unsuccessfully to track down the man, Callus said.

The man and woman do not appear to know each other, Callus said.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce