Four arrested on suspicion of vehicle thefts

Four suspects were arrested this week in connection with a string of vehicle thefts in Laguna Beach.

A Laguna Beach resident tipped off police at 1:41 a.m. Sunday morning after hearing her car alarm go off and discovering that her $300 sunglasses were missing from her vehicle.

Officers set up a perimeter before entering the area, Sgt. Louise Callus said, and a suspicious male was soon spotted by officers in the 400 block of Nyes Place.

Norman Stilley, 25, of Florida was found with the glasses and other stolen property and was arrested for possession of stolen property, police say. After detectives interviewed him at the station, police learned there were more suspects staying at a Westminster Motel 6.

Detectives went to the motel, where they discovered the three suspects and a large amount of stolen property from Laguna Beach residents.

Stilley; Sarah Ann Allred, 19; Eric Thomas Buseth, 19; and Allan David Liesk, 23, are all facing charges of possession of stolen property, burglary, petty theft, possession of a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit a crime, police say.

According to police, the group traveled to Orange County from Utah the week prior because one of the suspects was a former resident and told them that cars were often left unlocked.

Immediately after their arrival they began to steal property from vehicles in Laguna Beach, Callus said. The thefts allowed them to pay for their motel room. They would allegedly sell items at North Orange County pawn shops and exchange loose change at Paystar machines.

In the week prior, police had seen an uptick in vehicle thefts and officers had been on alert.

joanna.clay@latimes.com

Twitter: @joannaclay