Dario Pini arrested for burglary

A well-known Santa Barbara landlord was arrested on burglary charges, accused of stealing building supplies from a home renovation construction site. Dario Louis Pini, 63, was detained by Santa Barbara police at 3:10 Friday morning.

A media release from SBPD stated officers first responded to a burglary call at a home renovation project on West Carrillo street five days on March 17. The owner of the home told officers he called them after neighbors in a nearby apartment complex reported Pini had been seen behind chain link fences surrounding the house under construction. One of the neighbors said he challenged Pini, who dropped copper tubing, water heater pipe fittings and coaxial cable he was carrying before he exited the property.

On March 19, neighbors near an unrelated Santa Barbara housing project owned by Pini protested his plans for the property at a city council meeting. Opponents are concerned Pini’s properties were developed with high densities unsuitable for the neighborhoods where they are located.

On the March 17 burglary charge Pini was arrested without incident and taken to the Santa Barbara County jail. Bail was set at $20,000.