Sheriff’s Office requesting public’s help locating package thief

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to help identify a female suspect who was captured on surveillance video on Dec. 30, 2016 stealing a package off the front porch of a Goleta home.

The suspect is described as a black or dark skinned adult Hispanic woman who was driving a newer model black 4-door Ford Focus.

The surveillance video, which was captured at the victim’s home in the 500 block of Carlo Drive, shows the suspect parking in front of the home, gets out of the car, walks casually to the front porch, takes the package, walks back to her car, and drives off.

Sheriff’s investigators say the woman was then seen pulling into a driveway a few houses away and looking into a mailbox with the flag up, but left the scene without taking anything.

The Sheriff’s Office says the stolen package contained sentimental and irreplaceable items.

Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 805-681-4100. To leave an anonymous tip, call 805-681-4171.

The Sheriff’s Office says they’ve received an increase number of reports of stolen packages in the last several weeks from different areas of the county. They say most thefts occurred during the afternoon and early evening hours when no one was home.

TIPS

The following tips from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department aims to protect residents from becoming victims of package thefts:

Let your neighbors know when a delivery is expected in a day or two so they can be on the lookout for the package as well. Bring packages indoors quickly to limit exposure to thieves. Request tracking and delivery alerts when ordering online. Consider having packages shipped to places of employment, friends, or family. Residential surveillance systems can also be helpful in assisting investigators with solving these crimes.

Always remember, to report suspicious activity in progress, call 911.