BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Vandalism suspected in Club damage

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club building on St. Ann’s Drive sustained $700 worth of water damage, members reported Aug. 21. An employee arrived at the club to find water all over the floor, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz said. A plumber could not locate the source of the water, which apparently came from outside.

Mother arrested for allegedly stealing food

A 36-year-old mother of two was apprehended after she allegedly tried to steal 12 food items, valued at $69.88, from a supermarket in the 600 block of North Coast Highway at 2:02 p.m. Aug. 21, Kravetz said.

The suspect, identified as Tammy Franklin, had her 2-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter with her. The food was recovered. Franklin was cited and released.

Man held on suspicion of stealing two cans of beer

Police arrested Ronald Eric Ronneburger, 51, on suspicion of taking two cans of beer from a market in the 700 block of South Coast Highway at 7:34 a.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

The suspect was captured after a can of beer fell out of his pants pocket when he was leaving, which alerted store employees, Kravetz said. Ronneburger was arrested on a misdemeanor bench warrant for public intoxication and also issued a petty theft citation.

Man injured when struck on head with skateboard

A 15-year-old Laguna Beach boy was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon “” a skateboard “” after a 20-year-old Laguna Beach man was struck in the head, requiring stitches in his face, Kravetz said.

The alleged assault occurred at 10:20 p.m. Aug. 21 on the 300 block of Locust Street.

Neither the suspect nor victim knew each other prior to the incident, Kravetz said. Police said the victim was near his residence when the suspect and his friends approached, and the suspect allegedly hit the victim across the head with his skateboard for an unknown reason. The victim was transported to Mission Hospital for treatment. The juvenile was taken to Juvenile Hall.

Alleged credit card fraud lands woman in jail

A Florida woman who allegedly used a bad credit card at posh hotels in Laguna Beach and elsewhere was arrested on suspicion of burglary at 2:26 p.m. Saturday at the Montage Resort & Spa, Kravetz said.

Police said Susan Natividad Lim ordered a drink from the hotel bar, and paid with a credit card, which was declined. Bar employees allowed her to leave without paying for the drink. She then allegedly went to a restaurant at the same hotel and ordered lunch, which she ate, and then presented the same card for payment. The card was declined again, but employees again allowed her to leave. She then allegedly went back to the bar and ordered another drink, whereupon employees called the police.

Officers discovered that the suspect had been at the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point, allegedly doing the same thing, a few days before. Other potential victims of the credit card fraud were also located. In addition, Lim was accused of writing checks without any money in her account to Saks Fifth Avenue in Mission Viejo, the Laguna Brisas Hotel, Albertson’s and Natraj Cuisine of India.

Initial charges of defrauding an innkeeper were upgraded to burglary after the additional allegations surfaced, Kravetz said.

“We are still investigating, but it looks as if she has been doing this kind of stuff for many weeks,” Kravetz said.