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 Laguna Beach police are hot on the trail of a suspect in a series of “smash and grab” vehicular burglaries that occurred early Monday through Tuesday in the gated community of Three Arch Bay, said Det. Sgt. Darin Lenyi.  The suspect allegedly smashed the windows of at least three vehicles and stole valuables, including a credit card that was used at 7 a.m. Tuesday to buy $800 worth of tools at an Aliso Viejo business. He also purchased an extended warranty for the tools.

TUESDAY Brooks Street: A man told police that someone charged $3,000 to his credit card at 3:21 p.m. in the 31200 block. Pacific Avenue: Someone reportedly charged $1,691 to someone else's credit card at 11:49 a.m. in the 1200 block. MONDAY Skyline Drive: Tools were reportedly stolen from a job site at 10:01 a.m. in the 1500 block. Tree Top Lane: Someone reportedly pushed a golf cart over a hill at 9:31 a.m. in the 21600 block. SUNDAY Cozumel: A woman told police her car had been tampered with and she was receiving harassing phone calls at 5:27 p.m. in the 300 block.

Transactions will boost donations For the next two months, Lockheed Federal Credit Union will make a donation to the American Red Cross for credit card or signature-based transactions. Each time one of its 100,000 members use a Lockheed Federal Credit Union Visa or make a credit card purchase with a Visa Check Card, the credit union will make a donation, which officials estimate will be more than $40,000. The donations will be made to benefit relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast.

MONDAY Broadway and South Coast Highway: A Cathedral City man was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor resisting a police officer at 12:34 a.m. Catalina Avenue and South Coast Highway: A Long Beach man was arrested on warrants for possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia after police responded to a report of a foul odor inside a recreational vehicle at 2:31 a.m. Ceanothus Drive:...

Anonymous tip leads to burglary suspect Police are investigating a suspect in a residential burglary after finding a stolen item while responding to an unrelated call. At 6:58 p.m. Sunday evening, Laguna resident Michael Reynolds, after returning from a weeklong vacation, reported his house in the 200 block of Fairview Road had been burglarized. Items reported stolen from Reynolds home were valued at about $2,600, and included a laptop computer, champaign and credit cards.

Police arrested an 18-year-old woman on Sept. 26 on suspicion of stealing and signing more than $6,000 in Athena Day Spa credit card checks. Melissa Hesslink, who used to work at Laguna Surf, moved to Big Bear after allegedly stealing a piece of Athena Day Spa mail that contained American Express Card checks. The two businesses shared the same mailroom. Hesslink allegedly signed $6,167 in checks to herself and to her boyfriend, 21-year-old Laguna Hills resident Joshua Brigham.

It usually happens when you would least expect it. You lost a credit card a few months back, you discovered that some of your mail was stolen or you even innocently gave out all of your personal information while filling out a loan application. Then bang! The creditors are calling and wondering why you are late on the credit card payment for cards you never knew you had. How did this happen? It started with the criminal who stole your information or received it during a legitimate credit transaction and later sold it to others.