Man suspected in string of SLO County jewelry thefts arrested
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After a string of gallery and jewelry store break-ins throughout San Luis Obispo County, authorities have connected the cases to one suspect.
According to a news release from the SLO County Sheriff’s Office, police arrested Ryan Coats, 27 of Morro Bay, on Wednesday night on suspicion of four felony burglary charges and one count of attempted burglary.
At the time of arrest, Coats was found in possession of stolen property connected to a commercial burglary that had occurred earlier that same day in San Luis Obispo, the release said. He has also since been connected to other commercial burglaries that began in April in Cambria, Cayucos, San Simeon and Templeton, the release said.
Businesses impacted by these crimes included the San Simeon Post Office, Artifacts Gallery, McLean Jewelry and Upscale Resale, the resale said.
McLean Jewelry in Cayucos was burglarized on the evening of May 15, reporting the thieves stole $3,000 to $5,000 of miscellaneous jewelry, including jewelry parts, “loose gemstones” in Ziploc bags, “loose pearls” and raw silver and gold metal in wire form.
Similarly, two weeks later in Cambria, Artifacts Gallery suffered a broken window and $15,000 of stolen goods.
According to the Sheriff’s Office’s, police found that Coats was out on bail related to a separate burglary investigation being conducted by the Morro Bay Police Department at the time of his arrest.
It’s also suspected Coats is associated with numerous other break-ins outside SLO County.
Coats also has an extensive criminal history, the release said, that includes felony convictions in Santa Barbara County for possession of a stolen vehicle in 2019, assault with a deadly weapon in 2020 and grand theft in 2022.
Authorities said the investigation is still ongoing and encouraged anyone to contact the SLO County Sheriff’s Office with more information.
