No Doubt Woman Is Hoping Alleged Gem Thief Didn’t Swallow the Evidence

Call it “The Case of the Larcenous Lips.” The police log of the Dana Point News carried an item about a woman who claimed that a man at a local bar “took her diamond ring off her finger.” The victim theorized that “the man must have taken it when he kissed her hand.”

High, high tech: Hugo Furth of Manhattan Beach found what may be evidence that 21st century kids don’t want to be stuck with plain old cable TV in their treehouse (see photo).

Speaking of juvenile behavior: The Seal Beach Sun’s police report said that “a man driving a beat-up Ford van was seen with a pacifier in his mouth and attempting to pick fights with other people.” I’m guessing that the “pacifier” was really one of those ring-pop candies favored by kids who’ve graduated from babyhood (but usually aren’t old enough to drive).

Toy instruction? Actually, the educational center that Charles Rozner of Northridge came upon preps students for the SAT (see photo). Of course, many do have their hopes rise and fall like yo-yos while waiting for the results.

Letter imperfect: Someone at a job Web site probably needs to stay after school (see accompanying).

Driving-away “oops!”: “A friend and I had a relaxing day at a spa and bought large ice teas for the drive home,” wrote Mary Taddeo of Fountain Valley. “My friend put hers on top of the car roof while putting her stuff in the back. We got in the car and she opened the sun roof for the warm drive back. You guessed it -- an ice tea shower! To this day I don’t put things on top on my car.”

Spring training buzz: Michael Horowicz took in a Dodger game in Vero Beach, Fla., and commented: “I don’t want to say things are more intimate there, but just as Miss Florida was singing the last few notes of the National Anthem, a tiny Cessna 170 took off from the airport next door and drowned her out.”

Horowicz figured it was Vero Beach’s version of the traditional flyover salute.

Sleepless in Santiago: The “No Tents on Roadway” sign that appeared here rekindled a memory for Emmie Miller of Dana Point. Her family was driving in the Santa Ana Mountains near Santiago Peak when “we came across something in the roadway up ahead: two young people asleep in sleeping bags. We managed to edge our Jeep around them but did wake them up.”

No doubt the teenagers were outraged at the interruption so early in the day. After all, it was noon.

miscelLAny: Monday marked the 70th anniversary of the 6.3 quake that struck Long Beach. My uncle Albert Moog was living in Santa Ana at the time. After the quake, there were rumors that a tidal wave was going to strike Long Beach. Albert didn’t go home. He went down to the beach to watch for the tidal wave (well, he was 17). “The surf didn’t get any bigger than usual,” he reported with some disappointment.

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, Ext. 77083; by fax at (213) 237-4712; by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012; and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.