Full Notification

At approximately 6:45 a.m. this morning, January 29, 2017, Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Goleta station were dispatched to a report of a stolen vehicle in the City of Goleta. The vehicle had reportedly just been stolen within the past 15 minutes in the 7000 block of Story Place at the Hollister Village apartment community. The victim reported that he had started his vehicle and parked it near the walkway to his residence so that it could warm up. He left the vehicle unattended for approximately 15 minutes and when he returned, the vehicle was missing.

The vehicle was described as a 2003 white, Chevrolet Suburban. After discovering the vehicle missing, the victim immediately called 911. A Sheriff’s deputy responding to the location spotted a vehicle matching the description of the stolen Suburban traveling southbound on the US 101 freeway near Turnpike Rd. The deputy, who was traveling on the freeway in the opposite direction at the time, radioed to other nearby deputies of what he had observed. A Sheriff’s sergeant was able to maneuver into position and spotted that same vehicle traveling on the US 101 freeway southbound near La Cumbre Road. A check of the license plate revealed that the vehicle was in fact the stolen Suburban. The Sheriff’s sergeant followed the vehicle at a safe distance until other Sheriff’s resources could move into position for a high-risk traffic stop. Ultimately, the vehicle was stopped on Tallant Road and Treasure Drive, in the City of Santa Barbara.

The driver, 29-year-old Kurt Eilers, was removed from the vehicle at gunpoint. He complied with all lawful commands given and was taken into custody without incident. There were no injuries or property damage as a result of this incident. Further investigation revealed that Eilers was also driving under the influence of alcohol. Eilers is a former resident of Santa Barbara and currently resides in Bakersfield. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and driving under the influence. He is being held on $25,000 bail.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office wants to take this opportunity to remind residents to always lock their vehicles and to never leave idling vehicles unattended.