Santa Cruz Police seek suspect in surf shop theft

Santa Cruz police are seeking a suspect who they say used a stolen credit card to purchase about $1,600 in surf merchandise from O’Neill Surf Shop in Santa Cruz on Sunday afternoon.

Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark says the same man then tried to purchase about $2,000 of merchandise from Pacific Wave. When they asked to see ID, he left the store. He then tried to buy more stuff at O’Neill but this time, they asked for his ID and the purchase was declined.

The suspect was caught on surveillance footage. (Click here to see larger versions of the surveillance images.)

Police were called soon after and determined the credit card had been stolen from a hotel room just outside Santa Cruz.

Police are asking anyone who recognizes this individual or has further information to contact the department’s investigations unit at 420-5820 or call the anonymous tipline at 420-5995.