Two suspects believed to be responsible for a large number of “window smash” car burglaries on the Central Coast have been busted.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s officials say deputies arrested 24-year-old Daniel Castro and 19-year-old Salvador Perez following a month-long investigation. Detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying a third suspect.
Over the past 30 days, sheriff’s officials have investigated numerous auto burglaries in the rural, unincorporated areas surrounding Santa Maria. During the burglaries, the suspects broke car windows and stole personal property including purses, wallets and, in one case, a nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun. They used credit cards stolen during these thefts to make purchases at businesses throughout the Santa Maria Valley.
On Tuesday, investigators served search warrants in Santa Maria where they located and arrested Castro and Perez. The pair was booked into the Santa Barbara County jail on felony charges including conspiracy, burglary, vehicle theft, arson and identity theft.