Editor’s Note: This story has been amended since its original posting to reflect there have been 43 burglaries total, with 23 of them related.
Santa Barbara police are reporting a spate of 43 residential burglaries taking place between February 3 and March 6, and are urging residents to be vigilant for the sound of breaking glass and unfamiliar individuals in their neighborhood who appear to be acting as lookouts. Police say 23 of those burglaries appear to have perpetrated by the same crew with the same M.O.
At a Downtown Organization meeting Tuesday, a police representative stated five burglaries took place in one day, mostly on the Mesa. Sergeant Riley Harwood said most of the activity has been focused on the Westside, the Eastside, and the north end of town. “It’s definitely noticeable,” he said. “The past two years, we had a really low level of residential burglaries.” No arrests have been made.
Harwood said the department has launched “saturation patrols” into the affected neighborhoods, but added, “Obviously we can’t be everywhere all at once.” During the same time period last year, the city experienced 20 total burglaries. Harwood said this year’s perpetrators are targeting residences that appear unoccupied during the day, then smash a window or glass door to gain entry.