Man caught stealing, trying on lingerie in surveillance footage
LAGUNA BEACH CA June 8 2017 — A 53-year-old man was arrested on charges of grand theft, burglary and vandalism after police recognized him on surveillance video modeling stolen lingerie, police said Monday, June 5.
The man, identified as Reese Westenberger, of Laguna Beach, is charged with stealing more than $1,500 worth of intimate clothing and cash, said Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jim Cota.
Westenberger is accused of breaking into the lingerie shop at 1857 South Coast Highway some time after 9:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25 when the owner closed for the night.
When the owner came back at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 26, he discovered $250 in cash was missing from the register and $1,250 in intimate wear was gone, Cota said.
He also discovered boxes of merchandise scattered across the floor.
The owner reported the burglary to Laguna Beach police who came to the shop and also took the store’s surveillance video.
On the video, police discovered a man they identified as Westenberger wearing yellow women’s underwear and nothing else, Cota said.
He was also observed stashing merchandise into bags and taking cash from the register.
“An officer recognized the suspect from previous police contact,” Cota said.
On Wednesday, May 31, Westenberger was spotted by a Laguna Beach police officer on Laguna Canyon Road.
After initial contact, Westenberger took off running but was quickly caught and arrested on charges of burglary, grand theft and vandalism, Cota said.
Westenberger was booked into Orange County Jail and is being held on $25,000.00 bail.
Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call the Laguna Beach Police Department at 949-497-0701.
The OCR
