A robbery at a local surf shop in Lompoc, California, was swiftly resolved following a coordinated effort by law enforcement, leading to the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of stolen items.
The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on December 13th, when Surf Connection, a surf shop serving the coastal town of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, was broken into. The suspect, believed to be a man in his late 30s, smashed the store’s front window and stole approximately $6,000 worth of merchandise, including sunglasses and other items.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect arriving at the shop on a distinctive cruiser-style motorcycle, his face partially covered and dressed in black. Lompoc Police Department (LPD) officers reviewed the video, which helped them trace the suspect’s movements through the town after the burglary. His last known location was in the southwest area of Lompoc.
Authorities were able to identify the suspect as 38-year-old Robert Cory Culligan, based on the motorcycle, which had previously been reported stolen. LPD officers, along with detectives and community service personnel, responded to Culligan’s residence, where they located the motorcycle and found it to be the one used in the robbery.
Upon further investigation, police discovered not only the stolen items from Surf Connection, but also additional illegal items at Culligan’s home. In a search conducted under his Post-Release Community Supervision (PRCS) terms, officers recovered the stolen goods, including the sunglasses and other merchandise, as well as a stolen motorcycle, a significant quantity of narcotics, body armor, and a replica revolver.
Both Culligan and his girlfriend were arrested on multiple felony charges, including burglary, possession of stolen property, drug-related offenses, and weapons violations.
Surf Connection, a local institution since 1986, has long been a hub for the town’s surfing community. Despite the rise of online shopping, the shop remains a vital resource for locals, making this burglary a particularly painful blow to the community. Authorities hope the swift resolution will allow the beloved shop to recover and continue serving the area’s wave-riders.
Related topics
- Florida Fisherman Catches 10-Foot Great White Shark
- Scientists Unveil Earth’s Lost Eighth Continent: Zealandia
- Hayden Rodgers Wins Puerto Escondido After Pipeline Scare