Arrest of Suspect for Commercial Burglaries
updated: Jan 14, 2013, 11:43 AM

Source: San Luis Obispo Police Department

WHAT: Arrest of Suspect for Commercial Burglaries

WHERE: Ben Franklin's and Padre Grocery and Liquor

WHEN: January 13, 2013 at 1939 hours

SUSPECT: Carmelo Colaccino, 29 years old, transient

On 01/12/13 at about 5:42 AM Ben Franklin's Sandwiches was burglarized after the suspect broke a window to gain entry into the business. The suspect stole cash from the business and left the area. Officers responded to a burglary alarm activation at the business and arrived minutes later but were unable to find the suspect.

On 01/13/13 at about 5:01 AM, officers responded to a burglary alarm at Padre Grocery and Liquors. When the business owner arrived he determined that a burglary did occur. The surveillance video showed three suspects enter the business after forcing open an exterior door. The three suspects stole numerous lottery tickets, cigarette packages, and a Google Tablet. The police officers were not able to find the suspects. The three suspect descriptions are as follows:

Suspect 1: Unknown race and sex, 5'6"-5'10", thin build, wearing a black winter hat with no bill and ear covers that hang down to near shoulder length, hooded sweatshirt with white block letters across the chest, bandana over the nose and mouth, long shorts that hang to mid-shin level, black calf length tube socks, black skater type shoes and black gloves.

Suspect 2: 5'8"-5'11" possible female, unknown race, medium or possibly heavy build, dark hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over the head, light colored bandana pulled over the nose and mouth, black gloves, jeans, black shoes, dark solid print backpack carried in front.

Suspect 3: 5'7"-5'10" white male adult, mid 20s, thin build, round framed reading glasses, oversized checkered-pattern dark hued hooded sweatshirt with a thick, light-colored inner lining and the hood pulled over the head, baseball style hat with a flat brim, jeans, and dark colored skater type shoes.

On 01/13/13 at about 7:39 PM an employee of the Chevron Station at 328 Marsh Street called the police because a person in the store was refusing to leave and kept falling asleep. . When the officers arrived they contacted the subject who was identified as Carmelo Colaccino. Colaccino was displaying symptoms of being under the influence of drugs. Colaccino consented to a search of his backpack and the officers found a loaded hypodermic needle that was believed to contain methamphetamine. A further search revealed numerous unscratched lottery tickets, cash, cigarettes and a Google Tablet. The officers arrested Colaccino for being in possession of stolen property, two counts of commercial burglary, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Colaccino also had a warrant out of Santa Cruz County. Colaccino was determined to be Suspect #1 from the above descriptions.

Colaccino admitted to burglarizing Ben Franklin's and Padre Grocery and Liquor. He told the officers that he was not alone at Padre Grocery and Liquor but he would not identify his accomplices. Colaccino also admitted to stealing a vehicle from Marsh Street downtown and dumping it near Chorro and Lincoln. We located the stolen vehicle and returned it to the owner. Colaccino also admitted to committing a burglary in Los Osos. Our officers will be working with the Sheriff's Department regarding that burglary. Colaccino told our officers that he has spent time in Santa Cruz, Sanger and San Luis Obispo in the past few months.

On 01/07/13 Colaccino was cited for illegal lodging after our officers found him under the bridge on Santa Rosa Street between Marsh and Pacific Streets. (This is the same bridge that was covered in the media last week because of the amount of trash and hypodermic needles present).

Colaccino was booked at the county jail for the above charges. Colaccino's bail is $60,000. Our officers will be working to determine the identities of Suspects #2 and #3. Anyone with information as to their identity is urged to call the police department.

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