By Raiza Giorgi

Local attorney Matt Allen came to work on Tuesday, Jan. 8, like any other day and when he opened his office door he discovered it had been broken into and possessions were missing. He quickly learned that several of his neighboring businesses were also burglarized and attempted to be broken into.

“It seems really strange to me they would target Los Olivos for one, and offices that don’t contain any significant amounts of cash. It’s also strange that they didn’t take my computers which are the most valuable. Whoever it was got away with two rolls of stamps and some of my wife’s silver that she kept in the office randomly,” Allen said.

Whomever attempted to break into the Los Olivos Berkshire Hathaway office failed as their drill bit snapped off in their deadbolt.
Photo by Stacey Rivera

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies received a report that a business has been broken into in the 2900 block of San Marcos Avenue in Los Olivos. Sheriff’s deputies responded and upon further inspection of the business and surrounding offices in the business complex, determined that three other offices in the complex and two nearby businesses also located in the 2900 block of San Marcos Avenue had all been impacted, according to Kelly Hoover, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department.

“The unknown suspect(s) forced entry to gain or attempt to gain access to the establishments. Four of the six were burglarized. Various items were stolen from the businesses. The Sheriff’s Office does not have any suspect information to provide at this time. The crimes are under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling our Anonymous Tip-Line at 805-681-4171,” Hoover stated.

Allen said in the 10 years he has done business in Los Olivos he has only known of one other burglary in the small town, and was shocked it happened at all.

“We are a quiet community and hopefully this is an isolated incident,” Allen added.

The Berkshire Hathaway office in Los Olivos was one of the attempted entries which were unsuccessful. Whomever attempted to break in tried drilling into the deadbolt and the drill bit broke off in the lock, according to office manager Stacey Rivera.

The locks have already been changed in many of the offices, and the Sheriff’s Department recommends having an alarm system or surveillance system, as well as keeping doors and windows locked. Citizens are encouraged if they see something, say something and report suspicious activity.