Anonymous
(stock photo)
Source: Santa Barbara Police Department
The Santa Barbara Police Department would like to inform its citizens of an increase in vehicle burglaries at many of our local parks, including Elings Park, Shoreline Park, and Chase Palm Park Expansion.
Offenders are targeting vehicles with items such as wallets, purses, or bags left inside the vehicle. The suspects generally force entry via the door lock mechanism on the driver’s door and steal only cash and credit cards from the wallet(s). The suspects remove the credit cards and allow the wallet to remain in order to provide themselves extra time to utilize the stolen credit cards for fraudulent purchases.
This release is only to make the public aware and to suggest ways to prevent being a victim.
A list of options and suggestions to deter these crimes are as follows:
- Do not keep valuables inside of your parked vehicle.
- If you have to lock your purse or other personal property inside the vehicle, please ensure these items are out of view.
- Upon returning to your vehicle, make sure to thoroughly look through your valuables to ensure your credit cards or other items have not been stolen.
