Full Notification

MEDIA RELEASE

WHAT: Arrests for Residential Burglary

WHERE: City of Pismo Beach

WHEN: May 21, 2018

ARRESTEES: Christopher Jones, 29 years-old out of Oakland, CA.
Veronica Weitz, 37 years-old out of Oakland, CA.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Captain Chris Staley

During the past few weeks residents in the north end of San Luis Obispo have experienced several residential burglaries near the Cal-Poly Campus. The suspects in these burglaries were stealing lap-top computers, Ipads, backpacks, and numerous electronics equipment. A puppy was also reported stolen in one of these burglaries. A surveillance photograph was taken of one of the believed suspects as he spoke on a cellular phone near one of the victim’s residences. These photographs were posted on the San Luis Obispo PD website and other social media outlets.

On Monday May 21, 2018 in the afternoon hours a Pismo Beach Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Veronica Weitz. Christopher Jones was the passenger in the vehicle. The alert Pismo Beach Officer recognized the suspect from the social media photographs and detained the two for further investigation. During the detention police confirmed Jones had a warrant for his arrest. They then notified San Luis Obispo PD Detectives who responded to Pismo Beach to follow up with their investigation. A search of the vehicle revealed numerous lap-top computers and other electronic equipment, as well as the puppy. Suspects Jones and Weitz were taken into custody without incident and transported to SLO PD.

Some of the items of property were identified as stolen through serial numbers and specific descriptions provided by the victims. SLO PD Detectives are still trying to identify the owners of the remaining items found in the vehicle which they believe to be stolen. The investigation has led Detectives to believe the suspects were targeting areas near Cal-Poly, specifically Fraternities, Sororities, and dormitory housing where doors are commonly left unlocked. Both Jones and Weitz are believed to be from Oakland California and may be associated with the increase in burglaries that occurred in San Luis Obispo back in January, March and last week. We would like to remind the public to lock your homes and store valuable property out of view from the public when you are away. Criminals actively look for crimes of opportunity and take advantage of complacent victims. It is also important to know the serial numbers on your valuables or to mark items of property for identification purposes in the unfortunate case they get stolen.



Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a recent burglary and can identify property which has been stolen is asked to contact San Luis Obispo Police Detective Jason Dickel at 594-8028.