Mission Viejo Woman Set Up Boyfriend for Mugging, Police Say

What appeared to be a mugging in a gated Laguna Beach neighborhood was really a woman who set up her boyfriend for a robbery, police said today.

Alana Cosette Hayes, 27, of Mission Viejo, is suspected of orchestrating the crime in Irvine Cove on Sunday about 8:30 p.m., Laguna Beach police Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

Hayes allegedly had her friend Tasmen Lamont Lorenson, 29, of Costa Mesa, stage a mugging, because she thought her boyfriend had expensive belongings with him, Kravetz said. The attack occurred off Pacific Coast Highway near Crystal Cove State Park. Lorenson had a knife and took the victim's wallet containing $1, his iPhone and keys to a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C240, police said.

Afterward, the boyfriend went door-to-door to get someone to call 911, Kravetz said.

The car had a LoJack transmitter in it, and authorities found it abandoned in a Costa Mesa alley Monday. Later, Cassaira Leann Simmons, 19, of Costa Mesa, got in it and drove to the Harbor Bay Inn in Costa Mesa, where she and Lorenson were arrested.

Hayes was arrested Monday night in Mission Viejo, where she was with the victim, whose name was not made public.  Detectives smelled a rat after questioning the pair, Kravetz said, adding that victim was shocked when he learned his girlfriend was behind the robbery.

According to Kravetz, Lorenson, booked for robbery, auto theft and conspiracy, was being held in lieu of $50,000; Simmons, booked for possession of stolen property, was being held on $20,000 bail; and Hayes, booked for robbery, auto theft, conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance, was being held on $50,000 bail.

Detective are expected to hand over their case to prosecutors Wednesday, Kravetz said.