San Juan Bautista burglaries have merchants upset

Vandals broke in to three San Juan Bautista businesses this week, leaving merchants and residents upset about lax security. 

 “This is the third year in a row this has happened,” said Veronica Pirl, who owns the Mission Cafe with her husband, Bruce. “For the past two years it was at Christmas time, so we thought maybe it wouldn’t happen after we got through the holidays.” The break-ins happened sometime Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. Pirl, along with the owners of Margot’s Ice Cream shop and the Valero gas station, each got calls from the Sheriff’s Department around 6 a.m. letting them know their businesses had been broken into. 

“I don’t think they’re professionals,” Pirl said. “It’s probably kids, looking for money.” Pirl said her First Aid kit had also been opened, leading her to believe they may have cut themselves while breaking in. 

San Juan Bautista Mayor Chris Martorana expressed frustration at the city’s tight budget and inability to hire full-time security or police.

“It’s the fourth or fifth time there have been overnight break-ins over approximately a two-year period. Certainly, there is a great deal of frustration because we’ve hired a security company to patrol between the hours of 10 p.m. till 7 a.m.”

Level 1 Security was hired by San Juan Bautista last year to patrol the streets at night. According to Martorana, the company told them the security guard would not be on duty Tuesday night due to a previously-scheduled training. Some residents found it odd that the incidents occurred on the one night there was no one on duty.

“It is sort of a coincidence that it happened the one night that they weren’t on duty,” Martorana said. When asked if he thought the burglars may have known the security guard’s schedule, he declined to make any judgments. “It’s crossed my mind, but it’s hard to say. At this point, we just don’t know much. We have to let the Sheriff’s Department do their job.” The San Benito County Sheriff is conducting an investigation of the incidents. 

Naomi Medina and her daughter Katie Cullum work at Margot’s Ice Cream shop and said the burglars broke in through the shop’s 100-plus-year-old glass front doors. “It’s a real shame,” Medina said, as she surveyed the broken doors. “They are solid redwood, they don’t make them like this any more.” The shop had to replace the front doors with two solid ones that cost $500 each. Burglars also stole Cullum’s iPad, a gift from her sister. It held her prized family photos. Cullum was visibly upset and said she hoped they would find the iPad. “My niece helped me put all those photos together and now they’re gone,” Cullum said. 

Martoraaa said the city just signed a contract with Level 1 Security that runs through July.  “It’s disappointing that we’ve gone through the process of identifying the need, figuring out a funding source, and going through the hiring process,” he said. “I was surprised to hear the guard was at a training, but I understand they let the city know ahead of time. It’s a single patrol unit, basically one person in a marked vehicle patrolling at night, driving around slowly and watching out.”

The city’s Strategic Plan Committee was asked by local businesses to address an ongoing string of thefts. In response, they refinanced a water and sewer bond and used the revenue to hire the night security. 

“The two top issues in town are water and security,” Martoraaa said. “I think we have a very strong plan in place to address our water issues. An attempt to get security for late night hours is what we’re working on. With $1.6 million general fund budget, it doesn’t give us a lot flexibility. We’ve got a lot of things to pay for.” 

City Manager Roger Grimsley was unavailable for comment by press time.

Locals are rallying to help the affected businesses, with Daisy’s Saloon in downtown San Juan organizing a “San Juan Bautista Burglary Victims Fundraiser” on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 1-3 p.m. A Facebook post promoting the effort said: “These businesses as well as many others have fallen victim to these criminals in the past. It’s truly causing a financial burden on these small businesses, that are the core of this beautiful little town we all love. We are taking donations of any amount to help these businesses repair the damage. Please join us and give what you can and support this town we all love so very much. If you are unable to make it you can drop off donation any time at Daisy’s Saloon. Every little bit helps.”

If anyone has any information on the burglaries, they are asked to contact the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department at 831-636-4080.