A Santa Barbara man was arrested on Saturday, Oct. 3, after going on a theft spree at a fitness center on Third Street Promenade.
At 8:30 am officers of the Santa Monica Police Department responded to a call informing them of a theft that had just occurred at a location in the 1200 block of Third Street Promenade. Upon arrival at the scene (a fitness center) the officers spoke with staff members who told them that victims of the theft had followed the suspect down the street to the Coffee Bean.
The officers also learned that the suspect had stolen clothing items from a locker at the fitness center in addition to an iPod belonging to the business.
They also discovered that the suspect had grabbed the buttocks of a male staff member at the fitness center and that this behavior was considered to be unorthodox for a member of the gym to be indulging in, so the staff member had followed the suspect.
The staff member was then approached by fitness center members who claimed that the suspect had stolen their items. The officers went to the Coffee Bean where they apprehended this suspect.
The staff members as well as victims of the thefts had then positively identified the suspect. It was also pointed out to the officers that the suspect was actually wearing an entire outfit belonging to one of the victims.
This 40-year-old resident of Santa Barbara was arrested and charged with commercial burglary. Bail was set at $20,000.
