Deputies recover jewelry tied to Morro Bay burglary
Business owner reported significant jewelry loss after break-in
– A Lompoc man was arrested after law enforcement officers recovered jewelry reported stolen during a commercial burglary at a Morro Bay business early May 31, according to a press release from the Morro Bay Police Department.
Morro Bay police officers responded at about 3:45 a.m. to a burglary alarm at a business in the 800 block of Embarcadero Road. Officers arrived within minutes and found a broken front window.
The property owner was contacted and confirmed a significant loss, primarily consisting of jewelry.
Shortly after 4 a.m., while officers were investigating the burglary, deputies with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in Morro Bay for a vehicle code violation.
During the stop, deputies contacted the driver, identified as Ryan Michael Coats, 27, of Lompoc, and observed narcotics and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a large quantity of jewelry.
Morro Bay police officers responded to the traffic stop and identified most of the recovered jewelry as property stolen from the Embarcadero Road business.
Coats was arrested on charges of burglary, receiving or possessing stolen property, and theft with two or more prior convictions.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating additional incidents that may be connected to other property recovered from Coats’ vehicle.
