Man allegedly steals Starbucks tip jar, strikes a customer

A 26-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly stole a tip jar from a Huntington Beach Starbucks, then assaulted another customer who trailed him as he fled the coffee shop, police said Sunday.

About 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Francisco Cardenas of Santa Ana grabbed the tip jar at a Starbucks near the intersection of Adams Avenue and Brookhurst Street, according to Huntington Beach police.

Outside the coffee shop, another patron confronted Cardenas about the alleged theft. Cardenas then picked up a 40-pound metal sign, struck the patron in the head and fled on a bicycle, police said.

The patron who confronted Cardenas was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers located Cardenas about a mile away in Fountain Valley. He was arrested on suspicion of theft and assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on $25,000 bail, according to jail records.

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