Police Warn of Increase in Purse Thefts and Vehicle Burglaries
Source: Santa Barbara Police Department
The Santa Barbara Police Department would like to alert citizens:
- Be aware of suspicious activity stemming from high traffic areas like retail parking lots or beach front parking areas.
- The constant turnover and activity aide a thief’s ability to blend in with the environment. Be aware, these culprits are frequenting grocery store & shopping center parking lots.
- Inside the store, they target unsuspecting shoppers who place personal items – like purses – in the cart. When the shopper is distracted, they grab the items of value.
As stated previously, there has been a rash of vehicle burglaries and theft from vehicles at beachfront parking areas and trailheads. Police suspect professional crews are specifically targeting those areas due to high value opportunities.
The vehicles are often accessed while locked with the use of tools to force entry.
Sometimes, thieves steal only a couple of credit cards – returning the wallet or purse to its original location in the vehicle. They rack up thousands of dollars of charges before an unsuspecting victim realizes that they have been taken.
Don’t become a victim. The Santa Barbara Police Department encourages citizens to:
- Keep your purse on your shoulder while shopping – NOT in the cart.
- Lock your car and take your keys with you -- numerous stolen cars are taken because people leave their key or key fob in the car and leave it unlocked.
- There’s no such thing of a good hiding spot inside a vehicle. Do not leave purses, backpacks, wallets, phones, or anything else of value in your parked car.
Do your part. Remain aware, help us catch these thieves by reporting any observed suspicious activity by calling 911.
15 Comments
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Mar 02, 2021 04:23 PMThank you for this alert.....
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Mar 02, 2021 08:59 PMThere are ZERO consequences for petty theft. The cops can only cite and release in our great State of California
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Mar 02, 2021 09:35 PMFrom the SBSO 2020 crime stats report released February 19th they showed the stats on theft incidents up dramatically over the last 3 years and 2020 set a record high for the past 10 years. See the numbers here....https://www.sbsheriff.org/santa-barbara-county-sheriffs-office-releases-2020-crime-stats/
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Mar 02, 2021 09:54 PMCourtesy of Prop 47.
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Mar 02, 2021 11:24 PMI might even appreciate that! We will get obliterated before sunrise
Watch
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Mar 02, 2021 11:18 PMThis may sound strange, but I'm a woman in my 50's and I wear a tri-folfd ,hand-toold walllet in my back right. Juan Lara made it himself.
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Mar 03, 2021 02:30 AMThat made me smile. I remember his small shop in Jedlicka's parking lot. Nice memories!
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Mar 02, 2021 11:39 PMThere are no penalties so they continue to steal. Time for booby traps in cars...
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Mar 02, 2021 11:52 PMSo,
Thank you so much to the Coppers!
Um, I really appreciate your hard work and all,,, but I have some more questions about my money:
1) So how come the bike riders can ride on the sidewalks, not obey traffic laws, and not get tickets?
Can I Please drive my car on the sidewalk on De La Vina so I can get to work on time? Yeah, just asking,..
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Mar 03, 2021 12:03 AM2) Um, so when I try to cross State St. at Canon Perdido and I clearly have the green light and a bicyclist or pedestrian choses to enter into my legal right-of-way, can I stop and issue a civilians' arrest warrant?
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Mar 03, 2021 12:19 AMWhy don't people on bicycles (spc. incumbent ) have to provide proof of ridership like auto owners do? Like , why don't they have to show a proof of "Roadworthy Vessel" ?
For God sakes, these KrustyBooms are a severe hinderence.
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Mar 03, 2021 07:14 AMSee story above where meth heads with a truckload of stolen goods are caught and released to do more crimes. Insanity.
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Mar 03, 2021 09:24 AMIn the old days, thieves and drug addicts were kept in jail. There was less crime, and everyone was safer. Maybe we should consider putting people like this in jail. It would stop the thefts from occurring, and it would provide a great opportunity to treat the thieves’ addiction problems.
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Mar 03, 2021 01:54 PMCHIP - In the old days, people were grumbling and moaning about the old days. Things change, they have since day 1 of the universe.
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Mar 03, 2021 01:45 PMIn the past I sometimes took it upon myself to point out to women leaving their purses unattended in shopping carts that they were being reckless, but every time I was met with an attitude as if I were threatening to steal them. So now I say nothing, and see this stupid behavior in every store. Funny thing, I wear clothing with pockets and could never see the need for a purse.