Surveillance Cameras Show Suspected Con Artists

Victim Arrived in Santa Barbara Less Than Three Hours Earlier

Santa Barbara - September 1st, 2010

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Detectives are releasing surveillance images they hope will lead to the arrest of a couple who stole hundreds of dollars from a Chinese student just hours after the victim arrived in Santa Barbara to learn English.

The Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the crime at approximately 9:41pm on Wednesday, August 11, 2010, when a gas station clerk requested a Sheriff’s Deputy to take a report for a theft of cash.

Earlier that evening, a 23-year old student from China had come to Santa Barbara where he planned to attend a three month English as a Second Language class. The student checked into a motel on upper State Street before walking to La Cumbre Plaza to purchase an Apple iPhone 4. He said he needed a cell phone since he had no way of communicating now that he was in the United States.

The student was in the Macy’s Department store looking at the phone choices in an Apple Kiosk vending machine when he was approached by a man who said the victim would be charged more money to buy a phone because he was from out of the country. The suspect told the victim that he could help buy him a phone for less money. The victim then agreed to give the suspect $700.

After receiving $700 cash, the suspect (accompanied by a female companion and a young girl) then drove the victim to a cell phone store in the Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta. The store was closed for the night, but the victim says the female suspect told him she could go in through a back door and pick up a cell phone for the victim. When the student reminded the couple that he wanted the iPhone 4 he was told that it would be another $200, which he then gave to the suspects. As the woman walked around to the back of the building, the male suspect took the victim to a nearby Chevron gas station on the 6800 Block of Hollister Avenue.

Both men went inside the market where the suspect attempted to buy two sodas. While at the counter, the suspect said he left his wallet in his car and needed to retrieve it. He promised to be back in a moment, but he never returned. The victim waited in the store for two hours before the store clerk told him it did not appear that the suspect was going to come back. The clerk then called law enforcement.

The male suspect was described as approximately 30-years old, 5’8” to 5’10” tall, with dark black hair. Sheriff’s Detectives have recovered surveillance images taken at Macy’s and at the Chevron gas station that show both the male and female suspect. They are releasing the images to the public in the hopes that someone may recognize one or both suspects. The suspects are believed to have been driving a white four-door 2007 Ford Fusion or similar model vehicle.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Sheriff’s detectives at (805) 681-4150 or the Sheriff’s Anonymous Tip Line at (805) 681-4171.

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org