Two Men Arrested in Santa Maria Robbery

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The Santa Maria Police Department has arrested two men in connection with a robbery that occurred on Friday night on the 1000 block of East Donovan Road. The victims had stopped because their vehicle had broken down when three to four suspects approached them, assaulted a man, and struck a woman before taking her iPhone and fleeing the scene.

Why it matters

Robberies and violent crimes can have a significant impact on a community's sense of safety and security. This incident highlights the importance of effective law enforcement response and the use of surveillance footage to help identify and apprehend suspects.

The details

According to police, the incident occurred around 9:27 p.m. on Friday. The victims had stopped because their vehicle had broken down when three to four suspects approached them. The suspects opened the driver's door, assaulted a man, and struck a woman when she tried to help. The suspects then took the woman's iPhone before fleeing the scene. Surveillance footage from a nearby business was reviewed and shared with officers in the area, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Ivan Lopez Montez and Diego Jose Jaimes Vargas, in a nearby mall parking garage.

• The incident occurred around 9:27 p.m. on Friday, February 7, 2026.
• The two suspects were arrested later that night in a nearby mall parking garage.

What’s next

The incident remains under investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department.