Construction cameras catch two burglars in the act

Santa Barbara County sheriff’s officials say the burglary happened about 6:20 a.m. Sunday morning at a construction site in the 4300 block of Marina Drive in Hope Ranch.

Security personnel hired to watch the property noticed the two suspects on surveillance cameras and called 911. The men drove up in a gold van and started walking around the property. By the time deputies arrived on scene, the suspects had left. About 20 minutes later, a sheriff’s detective in Carpinteria spotted the suspects’ vehicle in a parking lot off Highway 101 and Casitas Pass Road.

Deputies eventually arrested 44-year-old Robert Donohue of Santa Paula and 32-year-old Joesph Espinoza of Ventura on numerous charges connected to the burglary and drug charges.

Detectives are investigating whether Donohue and Espinoza are connected to other burglaries.

Here is the entire press release by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office:

Two Suspects Arrested for Construction Site BurglaryCrime Occurred in Hope Ranch, Suspects Arrested in Carpinteria Carpinteria- At around 6:20 a.m. on Sunday morning, June 9th, Santa BarbaraCounty Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a construction site in the 4300 blockof Marina Drive in Hope Ranch. A security company, hired to watch the sitewhere a home was being built, noticed suspicious activity on itssurveillance cameras. The cameras detected two suspects in a gold vanillegally entering the property and then getting out of the vehicle andwalking around the property. The security company employees called 9-1-1but by the time Deputies arrived, the suspects had fled. Dispatchers sentout a “be on the lookout” description of the suspects and the vehicle. About 20 minutes later, a Sheriff’s Detective in Carpinteria noticed avehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle in a parking lot offthe 101 exit at Casitas Pass Road. The Deputy made contact with the twosuspects. Through the course of the investigation and based on evidence fromthe vehicle and from surveillance video, the two suspects were arrested.44-year-old Robert Donohue of Santa Paula was arrested for burglary,possession of burglary tools, conspiracy to commit burglary, possession ofdrug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine. 32-year-old Joseph Espinoza of Ventura was charged with burglary, possessionof burglary tools, conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of a dagger,possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell andtransportation of a controlled substance with the intent to sell. He wasalso charged with driving with a suspended license.Both suspects are in the Santa Barbara County Jail booked on 50,000 dollarsbail. Detectives are investigating whether the two suspects are connectedto more burglaries.