Lompoc Man Charged with Burglary of Evacuated Home

Update by Santa Barbara County District Attorney
December 21, 2017

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced today that another criminal charge has been filed relating to a crime emerging out of the Thomas Fire.

In this case, burglary charges were filed against Adam James Smith, age 32, of Lompoc, for residential burglary, in violation of Penal Code section 459, a felony.

The defendant was arrested on December 19, 2017 by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department deputies with the assistance of San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Santa Maria Police Department officers who were providing mutual aid patrol to evacuated fire areas during the Thomas Fire.  

The alleged burglary took place in the 1000 block of Channel Drive in Montecito.

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on December 21, 2017, in the Santa Barbara Superior Court. 

Source: Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office
December 20, 2017

At approximately 8:30 p.m. last night, December 19, 2017, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence in the 1000 block of Channel Dr. in Montecito. The property’s on-site manager received an alarm activation and reviewed surveillance video. The property manager saw an unknown male walking on the property and called 911. 

Sheriff’s Deputies along with Mutual Aid personnel assigned to patrol the evacuated fire areas responded to the scene to assist. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputies, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Deputies and Santa Maria Police Officers arrived on scene and set up a perimeter at the residence. The property manager, who was monitoring the surveillance cameras, provided updated locations of the suspect to the deputies and officers searching the property.

Deputies contacted the suspect inside the residence and directed him outside where he was detained. The property manager spoke with deputies and confirmed that the suspect was not known to the property owners.

The suspect was identified as being 32-year-old Adam James Smith of Lompoc. Smith was arrested and transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked on charges of residential burglary and four outstanding warrants. Smith is being held without bail.