Watch Out For New Vehicle Repair Scam
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning on Friday about a new vehicle repair scam.
An 86-year-old resident from an unincorporated area near Goleta told deputies he was the victim of a scam.
The man said he was returning to his vehicle after grocery shopping on the 5800 block of Calle Real when he was approached by a man. The suspect told the victim that his brake lights were broken and offered to fix them.
The suspect was with a woman and several children who talked with the victim while the suspect pretended to fix the victim’s vehicle.
The suspect then requested payment and even wrote up a receipt for parts he never replaced. The 86-year-old victim paid the suspect and realized later he was ripped off.
Sheriff’s deputies investigated and reviewed surveillance video showing the same suspect and a second suspect approaching other people in the parking lot and tampering with unoccupied vehicles.
The video appeared to show another possible victim paying one of the suspects.
The suspects are associated with a dark colored 2012-2016 Toyota Prius c.
If you have any information about these suspects, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 805-683-2724 or you can remain anonymous by calling 805-681-4171.
