2 arrested in connection to December home burglary in Santa Maria

SANTA MARIA. Calif. - Two people have been arrested on suspicion of burglarizing a Santa Maria home in December.

The burglary happened Dec. 28 at the home of an elderly resident. A safe with a large amount of cash was stolen from the elderly person's home.

Santa Maria police detectives began investigating and identified Julio Cesar Bautista, 21, and Jazmin Martinez, 21, as suspects in the burglary.

Police obtained search warrants at the homes of the suspects in Santa Maria. On Feb. 14, the search warrants were served and Bautista was arrested at his home on the 400 block of East Central Avenue. Another warrant was served at Martinez's home on the 1600 block of North Surrey Drive, but Martinez was not located.

Bautista was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail and is being held on $1 million bail.

Detectives eventually learned that Martinez had been living in Mesa, Arizona.

On Feb. 27, police, working alongside local law enforcement and the FBI, were able to bring Martinez into custody. A search warrant was also served at the Mesa home where Martinez had been staying.

Martinez is expected to be extradited back to Santa Barbara County soon.

Both Bautista and Martinez are expected to face charges for residential burglary, grand theft, conspiracy and financial elder abuse.

Investigators say multiple pieces of evidence, including items believed to have been purchased with the stolen money, were obtained through the search warrants.

Anyone with additional information about the burglary or any stolen money is asked to contact the Santa Maria Police Department at 805-928-3781.