After an increase in random theft at retail parking lots and beachfront parking areas, the Santa Barbara Police Department is urging citizens to be aware of suspicious activity, lock their cars when parked, and keep an eye on their car keys and personal belongings at all times.
Busy areas with high volumes of vehicle and pedestrian traffic, such as Arroyo Burro Beach, Shoreline Park, and Elings Park, are of particular concern, said SBPD Communications Sergeant Ethan Ragsdale. The thieves are suspected to hail from out of town and may operate in organized groups, said Ragsdale.
“The ‘item of desire’ for these suspects are credit and debit cards mostly. They use the stolen credit cards at a local grocery store or department store to buy gift cards,” explained Ragsdale. “I’m assuming their hopes are to use as much of the money on the cards as possible, before the victim discovers the fraud alert.”