Full Notification

WHAT: Residential Burglary; UPDATE

WHEN: March 9th 2017

WHERE: 800 block of Mill, San Luis Obispo

SUSPECT: Joseph HOPKINS, 29 year old Resident of Costa Mesa

DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Sergeant Chad Pfarr


On March 9th, the Police Department began investigating a residential burglary that occurred in the 800 block of Mill. Shortly after the investigation was started an unknown male suspect attempted to pawn several unique pieces of jewelry believed to have come from the burglary. As a result investigators obtained surveillance video of the unknown suspect trying to pawn the items.

At the beginning of the investigation photographs of the suspect were distributed to law enforcement agencies throughout the State. Last week San Luis Obispo investigators were contacted by investigators from Northern California who recognized the suspect. He was identified as 29 year old Joseph HOPKINS of Costa Mesa. HOPKINS had been arrested in Northern California in connection with another residential burglary and bailed out of custody before our investigators had been informed of the arrest. Late last week HOPKINS was arrested in Southern California on new charges of conspiracy. Over the weekend investigators from San Luis Obispo conducted an interview with HOPKINS related to our case. As a result of our investigation the case will be forwarded to the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s Office for criminal complaint against HOPKINS.

If you have any information about this crime you are encouraged to call the San Luis Obispo Police Department at 805-781-7312 or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP.