By F. Scott Faulkner
GOLETA, CA – April 9, 2025 – Five suspects in Goleta in connection with a suspected organized residential burglary operation on April 4.
Working on information provided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, on the afternoon
of April 4, 2025, detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department and the Santa Barbara
County Sheriff’s Office patrol units went to a Goleta neighborhood, where deputies spotted three
vehicles believed to be connected to the suspects identified by Orange County authorities.
Detectives conducted surveillance and observed what appeared to be a coordinated
attempted burglary, whereupon deputies swept in and took five individuals into custody.
According to Sgt. Bryan Kerr of the Santa Barbara Police Department, “the suspects posed as
food delivery workers.”
One suspect would approach a residence with a fast-food bag and knock on the front door. If there was no response, two other suspects would move to the back of the
home and force entry.
The group would then flee in a “staged getaway vehicle.”
The following individuals were arrested at the scene and were transported to Santa Barbara
County Jail:
Dilan Gonzalez-Medina, 20, Los Angeles
Edwin Ospina-Leon, 26, Los Angeles
Jessica Ardila-Zambrano, 32, Southgate
Wendy Baelana-Hernandez, 33, Gardena
Cesar Reyes-Hernandez, 35, Van Nuys
All five remain in custody with bail set at $250,000 each.
