Burglars target two Goleta area businesses

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is looking for burglars who broke into two local businesses overnight.

Investigators say the burglars broke into safes at the Cajun Kitchen restaurant in Goleta’s Storke Plaza shopping center, and Valentino’s Take ‘n Bake Pizza in the 4400 block of Hollister Avenue in Santa Barbara County.

Sgt. Garrett Te Slaa believes the two burglaries are connected.

Burglars used a sledgehammer to get into floor safes, according to investigators. One safe was pried off the floor and the others were opened just enough for the burglars to reach inside and take the money.

Deputies are looking for three men who fled the scene in a black car. Suspect descriptions are not available at this time, but the Sheriff’s Office says it’s looking into some leads, including surveillance video from the businesses that captured the crime. Anyone with information regarding this crime may contact the Sheriff’s Office.

The owners of Valentino’s repaired the smashed door and said they are not letting this crime keep them from servicing their customers. Today, they’re back making pizzas.

Valentino’s set up a GoFundMe account to help with expenses associated with the burglary–https://www.gofundme.com/my-familys-business-was-robbed. “This robbery has taken a huge hit on my mom and family,” said Tyler Olive-Jones with Valentino’s.

Tyler said his mom works two jobs.