BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Shopkeeper nabs burglary suspect

Jason Curt Campbell, 25, of San Juan Capistrano, was arrested July 25 after his former employer allegedly caught him breaking into a print shop, Laguna Beach Police Det. Joe Torres said.

The owner of the North Laguna shop reportedly had been burglarized repeatedly by a thief who stole between $1,000 and $1,500 from the till after the store was closed.

The owner decided to try to catch the thief, and hid inside a utility closet after locking up the shop.

The suspect entered the shop using a key at about 8:30 p.m., and was interrupted by the shop owner.

The suspect ran out of the shop, pursued by the shop owner, and both were observed by a patrolling police officer. While the officer was following the suspect, a 911 call was being placed by the pursuing shop owner.

The suspect fled in his car, pursued by the police officer, who stopped him on the 300 block of North Coast Highway.

Campbell was arrested and taken to Orange County Jail, where he was held on $50,000 bail, according to jail records.

Two arrested in undercover drug buy

Two Mission Viejo residents, one a 17-year-old juvenile and one 18, were arrested at 7 p.m. July 27 after allegedly selling 100 ecstasy tablets to undercover police in the 1300 block of Circle Way.

Alexander Boses, 18, was taken to Orange County Jail and held on $25,000 bail. The 17-year-old, whose identity was withheld due to age, was released to his parents.

Man arrested after drugs found on friend

A New Hampshire man was arrested at 6:55 a.m. July 27 on suspicion of drug possession after he and a New York woman were allegedly found camping at Main Beach, Det. Joe Torres said.

Christopher Scott Blue and Elizabeth Anne West were detained by Laguna Beach police officers.

During questioning, police found psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA, also known as ecstacy, in West’s possession. Blue told police that he had placed the drugs in her purse without her knowledge.

West was released without charge, and Blue was taken into custody.

Jewelry store ‘smash-and-grab’

More than $12,000 worth of jewelry was stolen in an early morning “smash-and-grab” heist from Adam Neely Designs at 353 N. Coast Highway on July 19, Laguna Beach Police Det. Debbie Kelso said.

The burglars, who broke the front door of the shop and smashed jewelry cases, were “not in the store very long,” Kelso said. An alarm sounded at 4:17 a.m., alerting police.

By the time police arrived, the fast-working burglars were gone, leaving jewelry strewn about on the floor.

A five-page list of stolen items included rings, necklaces, and bracelets. There are no leads, and there was no store surveillance system to help identify the burglars.

Electronics stolen from home

Thieves stole about $165,550 in electronic equipment from a home in the 2000 block of Victoria Drive between July 19 and July 21, Sgt. Darin Lenyi said. The theft was discovered at 11:12 a.m. on July 19 after the resident returned home.

The stolen items included a computer system, touch-screen LCDs and video equipment.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department crime lab collected evidence which may yield clues to crack the case, Lenyi said.