SLO police looking for links in string of computer burglaries

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A man was arrested on a burglary charge after he was seen and confronted trying to steal a computer from an apartment on the 1200 block of Murray Street.

Adrian Joshue Garcia, 20, of San Luis Obispo was arrested Feb. 19 on suspicion of burglary, police said. Bail was set at $40,000.

A string of similar burglaries targeting computer equipment have been reported in the area, said San Luis Obispo police Lt. Tom DePriest. It is not known at this time if the burglaries are related, he added.

“We’re looking into several other cases,” DePriest said. “Usually there is a connection.”

Brian Sinclair, 21, was returning home when he saw a man holding his computer through an apartment window, police said. Sinclair entered the apartment and noticed that other electronic equipment had been unplugged and moved.

Sinclair confronted Garcia and a struggle took place, police said. But Garcia was able to flee from the apartment.

After police arrived, Sinclair spotted Garcia down the street from the apartment complex, police said. Sinclair, along with a few other citizens, chased after Garcia. Garcia ran into a nearby apartment, where officers detained him without further incident.

The investigation is ongoing, police said. Anyone with information regarding this offense or similar offenses in the area should contact the San Luis Obispo Police Department at (805) 781-7317.

“There’s been a lot of burglaries in that area, unfortunately,” said DePriest, who is the detective on the case.

At this time, though, it’s not been shown that Garcia had a hand in the other burglaries in the area, DePriest said.

“If it’s one big operation, we don’t know,” he said.