Police seek suspect in watch theft from Kokopelli

Laguna Beach police are searching for a suspect wanted in connection to a theft from Kokopelli Gallery last month.

According to a police bulletin, a man in his 50s entered the gallery at 332 Forest Ave. the afternoon of Feb. 18 and distracted employees, reportedly walking out with a watch valued at $806.

Employees described him as white, with balding hair and a soft, feminine voice. He told employees he lived in La Jolla, police said.

While he spoke to gallery employees, he took the watch out of a display case and put it in the right pocket of his jacket, according to the bulletin. Police said he used his body to block employees from noticing the theft.

Police do not know if the suspect is associated with the Feb. 29 burglary at the gallery, which resulted in a $11,000 loss of jewelry from its display cases.

Anyone with information can contact Det. Matt Meadows at (949)497-0758.

A YouTube video of the suspect can be seen here.

—Joanna Clay