Warden Says Lobster-Theft Case Is Cracked : Sting: A suspect loses his ‘catch’ and expensive scuba-diving equipment.

Warden Jan Yost can hardly contain herself when she explains how she trapped the first lobster-theft suspect of the season.

Responding to daily complaints that nocturnal poachers have been swiping the costly crustaceans from Orange County trappers since the beginning of the lobster season Oct. 2, Yost and the California Department of Fish and Game baited a trap of their own.

The sting lobsters were marked with dyes and metal clips, then tucked inside traps borrowed from commercial fishermen. The traps were placed in about 15 feet of water in north Laguna’s Boat Canyon about 1 p.m. Friday. Then the lobster police sat back and waited.

Sure enough, at 11 p.m., a scuba diver emerged from the sea, toting two lobsters inside a rubber float.

Cited for suspicion of tampering with commercial lobster traps was Steven Caputo, 27, of San Gabriel.

The misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to a $1,000 fine.

In addition to cracking the caper and depriving the suspect of a tasty dinner, Yost said the department also seized $2,000 in diving equipment.

The department usually traps three to five poachers per year with similar sting operations.

“It takes a lot of manpower,” she said.