Law enforcement investigating string of South Coast break-ins

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A streak of burglaries took place in the Santa Barbara area early Monday morning.

South Coast Deli and Choi’s Oriental Market on Patterson Avenue in Goleta had their front doors shattered in. The deli had its cash drawer and safe stolen.

Jim St. John is the owner of South Coast Deli.

“The alarm company called us right away, called sheriffs right away, and we hustled over here and found the place with the glass broken into the door and they took one cash drawer and they took our safe,” St. John said.

St. John said the only thing the business could do was clean up the mess and get ready for the workday.

“We cleaned up, we boarded up the door and replaced the glass and moved on.”

Two other businesses that were hit, including Pierre Lafond market in Montecito, had a door and window shattered.

Another burglary at Old Town Coffee on Hollister Avenue was reported the Friday before these break-ins. That business had its window broken and several items stolen from inside.

It's unclear at this time if these incidents are related, but the sheriff's office says the circumstances are similar.

Detectives are reviewing surveillance video and other evidence, but each incident is being investigated separately unless detectives can link any of the crimes to the same suspect.

Anyone with information about these break-ins should contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office at 805-681-4150.