When Santa Cruz Police were investigating the Thursday burglaries of two businesses on Pacific Avenue – Santa Cruz Glass and Khyber Pass Restaurant – they found a digital camera that had apparently been left behind.
On it was a picture of Richard Stipe. The next day, Officer Azua got called to investigate someone suspcicious on River Street. The officer recognized the person from the picture he was shown the day before.
When Officer Azua questioned Stipe, 42, about the camera, Stipe reportedly confessed to the burglary. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail Friday.