The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested three people on Saturday after deputies say a neighbor witnessed the men leaving her neighbor’s home with stolen property.
Officials say it happened just before 1:00 p.m. on the 300 block of Second Street in Solvang.
After a witness watched two men leaving her neighbor’s home, the suspects allegedly got in a black four-door Honda Civic with a smashed front windshield with another man driving the car.
Deputies spotted the Honda Civic traveling westbound on Hwy 246. Inside the vehicle, officials found several burglary tools, including lock picks, a glass cutter, a mask, and a putty knife. The three men inside the car also had a stolen shotgun and other suspected stolen property, authorities say.
The driver of the car was identified as 36-year-old Lompoc resident Juan Jose Rodriguez, who deputies say was in possession of illegal drugs and driving the vehicle without a license.
35-year-old Daniel Vargas, also a Lompoc resident, was in possession of methamphetamine and drug smoking paraphernalia, deputies say.
Authorities say Lompoc resident 35-year-old Franciso Lozano was found to have an active felony “no bail” warrant and a misdemeanor warrant out for his arrest. Lozano lied about his identity and was charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
All three men were booked for an array of charges including residential burglary, conspiracy, possession of burglary tools, and possession of a controlled substance.
