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Sheriff warns Carpinteria residents about mail-check fraud, illegal camping and rising e‑bike incidents
Summary
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office reported a string of frauds, multiple DUIs and stepped-up illegal-camping enforcement in Carpinteria, and urged residents to avoid curbside mail drop boxes and report suspicious calls. Deputies also described rising illegal e‑bike incidents and towing costs.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff'9s Office told the Carpinteria City Council on May 11 that deputies investigated several scams in April, including fraudulent checks taken from a post-office drop box that together totaled $15,006.71. The sheriff'9s representative advised residents to avoid using the curbside drop box and to verify deposits inside the post office, saying, "If you get a call something similar, hang up immediately, and you could call the sheriff's office."
The sheriff'9s report also listed seven DUI arrests in April, including several drivers with blood alcohol levels well above the legal limit, and an arrest following a burglary in the 1400 block of Azalea Drive. Deputies issued 12 illegal-camping citations in Carpinteria last month and said arrests followed when individuals used false names or had warrants.
Council members pressed the sheriff'9s representative on the post-office checks and on enforcement of illegal e‑bikes. The sheriff said deputies had towed two illegal e‑bikes recently and warned that recovery costs can be "about $700 to $800" because items are held for at least 48 hours. He said citation issuance for illegal e‑bikes has been minimal so far and asked the public to continue reporting suspicious activity so deputies can respond.
The sheriff'9s office also provided the county'9s fraud-report contact for residents to share details of scams: reportfraud@countyofsb.org and the scam hotline (805) 568-2442. The report closed with a reminder that deputies remain available for non-emergency concerns via the local non-emergency dispatch number.
