SY students lose valuables in Santa
Maria
Ten
students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and two students from Ernest Righetti High School, Santa Maria, attending a swim match
in Santa Maria, reported to Santa Maria Police on Feb. 26 that numerous iPods,
wallets, cash, cell phones and other valuables were stolen from lockers during
the meet.
Officer
Albert Covarrubias, in a report filed with the Santa Maria Police Department,
said the incident, classified as a grand theft, happened at approximately 4:42
p.m. at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center in the Abel Maldonado Community Youth
Center, 516 S. McClelland, and that more than $4,000 in valuables were taken.
A
witness told police he saw the suspect, a Hispanic male juvenile, leave the
locker room and run from the area. The suspect is described as 5-feet, 5-inches
tall with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a blue t-shirt and blue jeans.
Jake
Kalkowski, SYVUHS coach for the swim team, said the
students were attending a swim competition when the theft occurred.
He
added that some students left their belongings in the swim area but many of
those who had used the lockers returned to find their lockers had been opened
and their property missing. There were no locks on the lockers. The students
were delayed in returning to the high school because they had to file an
itemized report with the police.
Lt.
Chris Vaughan, night watch commander with the SMPD, said anyone having any
information about the incident should contact Officer Covarrubias immediately
at 928-3781, ext. 1224.