Police Remind: Santa Cruz Prowlers Are Active

SANTA CRUZ-Santa Cruz Police want to remind the public that prowlers are active in the community, and that taking precautions is smart business.

The department released surveillance images Tuesday of an apparent prowler seen wearing checkered pants about 3:00 a.m. December 29 on the upper Westside. The person was casing and checking car doors in the neighborhood, according to police.

The department notes that just eight minutes earlier, a prowler of a different type - a four-legged type - had combed the same street.

SCPD want to reminds folks to double check that their car doors are locked, and to keep valuables out of sight. The department also suggests keeping your pets in at night.

You can see some car prowl prevention tips on the SCPD Blog: http://goo.gl/zXdg9T

In the second case on Tuesday, at about 9:00 am, police say an alert neighbor called 9-1-1 after seeing a suspect prowler loitering around the neighbor’s house on Fair Ave. Police located the suspect in the front yard of the house and detained Michael Salazar on suspicion of prowling.

According to Santa Cruz police, the investigation revealed that the suspect had been wandering around the driveway, side gate and front porch of the residence. The suspect prowler had taken items off the front porch off the unoccupied home without the knowledge or permission of the owner.

Police arrested the suspect, 45-year-old of Michael Salazar, a transient of Santa Cruz, into jail for prowling. Salazar also had in his possession drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine.

The department wants to thank the alert neighbor who saw Salazar prowling around his neighbor’s home and called 911.

SCPD credits the neighbor for not only recognizing suspicious behavior, but also for calling 9-1-1.

Police believe the timely call, coupled with a quick response from their officers, led directly to the arrest.