Westside

A TIP AND A TOAST: Two West Hollywood shop owners set a trap for an alleged credit card thief and forger Wednesday, the merchants inviting the suspect to the store to sip expensive champagne with them while Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies closed in.

Carol and Marco Delli, co-owners of Marco Delli Boutique Italy, said they sold almost $3,000 worth of clothes and shoes to Christopher Taylor since he first visited their shop Saturday, and the merchandise was charged to a credit card number he gave them.

Taylor, 23, came into the shop several times, and a friendship developed, Marco Delli said. Taylor even sent the couple a huge bouquet of red roses and purchased a $250 bottle of champagne from Mortons restaurant as a gift, Delli said.

On Tuesday night, a Mortons employee was tipped off when the credit card number came back as reported stolen, and he later called the boutique.

The next day, Delli invited Taylor to come and share the champagne with them at the shop. While the trio sipped the bubbly, a store clerk called West Hollywood sheriff’s deputies. Two bicycle officers arrived and after introducing themselves and exchanging pleasantries, they arrested Taylor on charges of forgery and misappropriation of credit cards.