In the heart of Santa Barbara’s bustling downtown, where State Street serves as a vibrant tourist destination, a brazen robbery attempt occurred in broad daylight on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. The incident took place at Gillio Rare Coins & Fine Jewelry, a well-known retail establishment that caters to both tourists and locals alike.
At approximately 4:20 p.m., Santa Barbara Police officers were dispatched to the store at 1103 State Street after receiving reports of a robbery in progress. As officers entered the store, they encountered an altercation between a store employee and the suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Santa Barbara resident Rodolfo Campos-Dirso.
According to SBPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, Campos-Dirso “entered the store armed with a firearm and demanded jewelry.” A physical struggle ensued between Campos-Dirso and the employee, drawing the attention of the public in the surrounding area. Both the suspect and the employee sustained “non-life-threatening injuries” during the altercation and were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment.
After receiving medical attention, Campos-Dirso was taken into custody and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail. He faces several charges, including attempted robbery, burglary, felony resisting an officer, felony battery causing serious injury, providing a false name, and possession of methamphetamine. His bail was set at $1 million.
