Local trail burglaries lead to two arrests
Victims reported broken windows and missing wallets after hikes
– San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two people on April 11 in Santa Maria in connection with a series of vehicle burglaries reported along the Bob Jones Trail in San Luis Obispo, as well as in Pismo Beach and Nipomo.
The suspects, identified as 37-year-old Carlin Mount and 33-year-old Alisha Marie Sherrell, both with no known address, were taken into custody at a motel in Santa Maria. Deputies recovered stolen property at the location that was linked to burglaries in Nipomo earlier the same day.
According to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, multiple vehicle burglaries occurred throughout March at the Bob Jones Trail parking lot on Ontario Road. In one case on March 31, a victim returned from the trail to find their vehicle’s front and rear passenger windows broken and their wallet and credit cards stolen. While speaking with deputies, the victim received alerts that the stolen cards had been used at two retail locations. One attempted purchase, which was declined, totaled more than $500. Another transaction for more than $300 was completed.
Deputies obtained surveillance footage of a male and female suspect at one of the burglary scenes. Sheriff’s detectives later used the footage, along with forensic analysis, to identify the suspects. A forensic specialist from the Sheriff’s Office assisted in confirming the identity of the male suspect.
The investigation also linked the suspects to a vehicle burglary at the Pismo Preserve on April 10 and additional vehicle burglaries in Nipomo during the early morning hours of April 11.
Mount and Sherrell were booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on burglary and identity theft charges.
