Five area restaurants have been hit since July 6; sheriff’s deputies believe multiple suspects involved

Staff Report

SANTA YNEZ – Deputies in the Santa Ynez Valley are investigating a series of restaurant burglaries that have occurredin recent weeks. On Saturday, July 6, deputies took a report of a burglary at California Tacos in Buellton. On Saturday, July 13, deputies took a second report for a burglary at Taco Roco in Buellton. On Wednesday, July 17, deputies took two additional reports of restaurant burglaries at the Red Barn and SY Kitchen. The fifth burglary was reported Thursday, July 18, at AJ Spurs in Buellton. 

This photo released by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department shows a person deputies believe to be a suspect in a reported burglary at the SY Kitchen restaurant in Santa Ynez on Wednesday, July 17. The SY Kitchen was one of two restaurants reporting burglaries on July 17, and one of five that have reported burglaries since Saturday, July 6. Photo Courtesy of SB County Sheriff’s Department

In each of these cases, suspects forced entry and targeted locations in the businesses where cash was kept. The amount of loss and list of items taken at each location is under investigation. Deputies believe that there is more than one suspect associated with these crimes and are sharing a photo of one of the suspects that was captured during the burglary at SY Kitchen. 

Deputies are asking anyone with information about these burglaries to contact the Solvang Sheriff’s substation at (805) 686-5000. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the Anonymous Tip Line at (805) 681-4171 or you can submit an anonymous tip on the Sheriff’s Department website at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.