Francisco Ayala Hernandez
Santa Barbara – There may be no more threatening property crime than a “hot prowl” wherein a burglar slips into a residence in the dead of night with occupants sound asleep with thievery as an objective.
But that’s exactly what transpired in a downtown Santa Barbara neighborhood at 3:00 a.m. on February 28th when Francisco Ayala Hernandez, a 24-year-old Carpinteria resident, allegedly entered a home through an unlocked front door.
According to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood, “he then went into a bedroom occupied by a woman sleeping, and while she slept stole money from her purse” and then with apparently brazen disregard for anyone’s safety, “searched the pockets of the pants she was wearing.”
Remarkably, the woman did not awaken, but—as the residence is occupied by multiple families renting separate rooms—surmised she was “being touched by a family member and not a stranger.”
It was at that point that Hernandez entered another room in the house and began rifling through dresser drawers, making enough noise to rouse a sleeping male who observed Hernandez taking a wallet off the dresser.
At that point, the man shouted at Hernandez, alerting other housemates to the intruder and compelling Hernandez to take flight on foot.
Fully awakened at this point, the male victim pursued Hernandez on foot down the street until he was confronted with a SBPD patrol unit who quickly brought him to a halt.
The immediately ensuing investigation into things revealed Hernandez to be in possession of the victim’s stolen property, whereupon he was placed under arrest.
Hernandez was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on multiple counts of burglary and violation of probation; he remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
