Suspected thief from Santa Barbara shows up in video and also flees Carpinteria store after another crime and assault

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - A suspect who allegedly took cash from a register in a Carpinteria store is now sought by the Sheriff's department after the crime, possibly one of many, including an assault on Thursday.

Since that report came out, Newschannel 3 has heard of others, including one in downtown Santa Barbara, with a person matching the same description.

Yesenia's boutique was closing at its location on Carpinteria Avenue near Linden Thursday night when a stocky male with a white sweatshirt wearing a beanie and with light brown skin, was still attempting to make a purchase. The owner said he had been in and our of the store prior to closing with a variety of needs. He also talked about someone coming to meet him who never appeared.

Around 6:30 pm he was outside and came back in and asked about a number of items.

"He was telling me he wanted to send money to Guatamala, and also wanted to send a box.  Then he looking for a dress for an 11-year-old girl," said Martha Marquez who is the owner.

She has jewelry, clothing, small electronics, and regularly cashes checks and wires money.

Marquez was distracted and the man was able to get into the cash drawer to take an unknown amount of money.

A friend of her mom's was nearby and surveillance video shows her being pushed as the man escapes.

"When she encountered him, he push her.  She fall into the box,  she hurt her back," said Marquez.

"After leaving the boutique with the cash in his hands, the suspect went down Carpinteria Avenue and witnesses say the last they saw of him he was going east.

Flyers are now out with pictures of the suspect in other locations.

A report has been filed with the sheriff's department, and the word is out.

Video in Santa Barbara is also out showing what all parties familiar with the suspect agree is the same person.

Earlier in the day he was in a designer furniture store on State Street taking an employees back pack.

"It wasn't until we looked back at the video that he was very anxious. If I was here it was questionable," said owner Lisa Faitell, of the Faitells Attractions designer showroom.

She was out at the time but an employee had been helping the man who left and then came back.

"We see him running back on the video,   grabs it and runs.  Runs out.   Not walks out.  Runs out ," said Faitell. "We have signs that say  'you're on camera.  Smile you're on camera', " she said.

It was a rare theft but the suspect got a surprise too.

Faitell said, "there was no money in it. Joke's on him."

The Marquez family has also heard from an Ojai business claiming this man hit them too.

Santa Barbara Police and Santa Barbara Sheriff have been contacted and are investigating.