Surfer helps police catch burglar in Santa Cruz

A Santa Cruz burglar was captured with the help of good Samaritans including a surfer who chased the crook down.

Santa Cruz Police said the suspect was caught trying to break into a vacation rental in the middle of the day Monday.

A surfer in a wetsuit then spotted the burglar and helped police chase after him.

“I’ve had a fair amount of good-natured humor directed my way by my staff in saying that I was outran by a surfer in a wetsuit, but, to my credit he was half my age,” said Dan Flippo, Deputy Chief with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Deputy Chief Dan Flippo told KION he saw the situation unfold while he was driving by so he jumped out to help and found several other bystanders had already begun to chase after the suspect.

Derek Timm, owner of Montalvo Homes and Estates, said he found the man scaling the side of their building, with a bag of burglary tools in hand.

“There were a couple surfers here at Cal’s Beach and Bikini. They come charging out and they help tackle him in the cross walk,” said Derek Timm.

People in the area said they would have jumped in as well.

Deputy Chief Flippo said seeing this makes him proud to serve a community like Santa Cruz.

“This is just is another example of us being a team. A team with the community and the community helping us out.”

“I hope it’s the start of something in Santa Cruz where people are standing up to these kind of activities in our community,” said Derek Timm.

Although the department would not give out the suspect’s identity yet, the man was arrested and booked into jail.

The Santa Cruz Police Department wants to remind you that if you see a crime being committed, first call 9-1-1 and only jump in if you believe it is absolutely safe to do so.