Serial Burglary Suspect Arrested Near East Beach

By the Santa Barbara Police Department

On January 18, 2023, Santa Barbara police officers were on patrol in the area of 300 East Cabrillo Blvd. when they contacted and detained 47-year-old Brian Christopher Schotz for violating a Santa Barbara municipal code section. Schotz was identified as a suspect involved in multiple commercial burglaries over the past several months in Santa Barbara.

These cases have been under active investigation by the detective bureau.

Schotz was arrested on scene and transported to the Santa Barbara Police Department.  He was later booked in Santa Barbara County Jail on four counts of felony commercial burglary and one count of felony identity theft.

Two other felony commercial burglary charges were referred to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for potential filing.

We want to thank the Santa Barbara community for reporting these crimes. Their active participation in these investigations assisted the Santa Barbara Police Department in the apprehension of this suspect.