Full Notification

The Santa Barbara Police Department is asking the public for assistance with any information regarding recent vandalisms to ATM machines and surrounding businesses in the Mesa area that appear to be related. On January 24, 2012 SBPD received a report from the property manager of Shoreline Plaza, 1819 Cliff Drive, who reported that the ATM belonging to Wells Fargo Bank had been damaged on multiple occasions. According to the reporting party, the ATM screens were shattered and messages were sprayed on the exterior wall of the adjacent CVS Pharmacy (1835 Cliff Drive). The reporting party stated that these incidents occurred on January 10, 12 & 24, 2012.

On February 1, 2012 the reporting party called SBPD again to report vandalism to the Wells Fargo ATM and to the wall of CVS. The suspect(s) smashed the ATM screen and spray painted across the machine. The suspect(s) wrote in black spray paint, “Class War” and referenced the Occupy Oakland movement. This time the reporting party stated that a person of interest was caught on surveillance camera in the area at about 2:30 a.m.

Earlier that morning, at 1:50 a.m., SBPD officers were dispatched to Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, 1960 Cliff Drive, after a carpet cleaning driver discovered the front glass doors of the bank had been shattered and the ATM screens damaged. At 4:10 a.m., SBPD officers were dispatched to Starbucks, 1990 Cliff Drive, after a food delivery employee arrived and saw that the front glass doors were smashed and cracked. In both of these incidents the reporting parties had no suspect information. The cases are being investigated by SBPD, including accessing video surveillance from the surrounding businesses and ATM machines. Extra patrol in the area has been initiated. Citizens with any information are encouraged to contact SBPD Detective Mike Brown at (805) 897-2340 or to call anonymously at (805) 897-2386.