Suspected ‘Smash and Grab’ Burglars Behind Bars

Stolen property from Santa Barbara County burglaries are being released back to the victims.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department released the following information: At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of an auto burglary that had just occurred within the city limits of Carpinteria.

The city of Carpinteria and unincorporated areas of Summerland and Montecito have recently seen an increase in auto burglaries in which the suspects smash a window and remove items of value.

During a recent burglary in Summerland, a concerned citizen reported seeing a black two or four door sedan fleeing the area. Deputies responded to local gas stations and searched for black sedans in the area.

During this time, the recent burglary victim was notified that her stolen credit card was being used a gas station in the 4400 block of Via Real in Carpinteria. A patrol sergeant located a black two door sedan leaving one of the local gas stations in the general vicinity.

The vehicle was stopped for a vehicle code violation and the three occupants were contacted. During the investigation the stolen property from the recent Carpinteria city burglary was located throughout the vehicle.

Additional stolen property from the recent auto burglaries in Summerland and Montecito (including the one related to the concerned citizen tip) was also located. Deputies continued their investigation and found that the suspects also had more than a dozen other victims’ property, including purses, electronics, cellular phones, personal identifying information, credit cards and checks.

The majority of these victims reside in Ventura County including Oxnard, Ventura, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks. Burglary tools used to enter vehicles were strewn about and also collected as evidence.

Deputies arrested the occupants of the vehicle who were identified as Oxnard residents, David Revelez, Frances Revelez and Sandra Namchek. Namchek was also found to be on active Ventura County Probation for narcotic related charges.

Frances Revelez and Sandra Namchek were both booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of possession of stolen property with their bail set at $20,000. David Revelez was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail for on two burglary charges, possession of stolen property, and unauthorized use of credit card and driving on a suspended driver’s license. His bail was set at $200,000.

The stolen property from the Santa Barbara County burglaries is being released back to the victims.

The Ventura County law enforcement agencies have been notified of the suspects’ arrests and that property will be released to those victims in the near future.

Additional charges in Ventura County are expected. The city of Carpinteria and the Sheriff’s Office reminds vehicle owners to utilize anti-theft devices, lock their vehicle doors/windows and keep their valuables out of plain view.

Report any suspicious subjects to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office at 805-681-4100.