House Sitters Turned Thieves, Thwarted by Cybersecurity

House Sitters Turned Thieves – Thwarted by Cybersecurity 

May 11, 2024 – Santa Barbara, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office officials report that three suspects have been arrested for a series of crimes they committed at a home they were hired to keep watch over. On Friday, May 3, 2024, deputies were contacted by a homeowner who was out of the area, but suspected the house sitter they hired to watch their dog and their home was instead stealing from them.

Through their investigation, deputies learned that the main suspect, 30-year-old Santa Barbara resident Joshua Rademacher was hired based on a recommendation by the victims to house and dog-sit. Rademacher instead conspired with two additional suspects, 29-year-old Brittany Silva of Santa Barbara and 36-year-old Kyle Guilfoyle of Santa Barbara, to steal property and credit from the victims.

The victims received a fraud alert from their credit card company, followed by an alert from their internet firewall of suspicious activity. The victims quickly notified the Sheriff’s Office and provided helpful information that resulted in the arrest of the suspects.

Joshua Rademacher was arrested on May 4, 2024, for felonies including possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm, possession of a controlled substance for sale, and conspiracy. He has since been released from jail.

Brittany Silva was arrested on May 3, 2024, for felonies including burglary, possession of a controlled substance for sales, conspiracy, identity theft, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm, grand theft, and credit card theft. She remains in custody with $150,000 bail.

Kyle Guilfoyle was arrested on May 6, 2024, for felonies including burglary, identity theft, and conspiracy. He was also booked for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for possession of brass knuckles, and he was also charged with possession of meth and paraphernalia that he was found with upon arrest. He has since been released from custody.

The dog that was in the care of the suspects was not harmed and was released to a friend.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to highlight this case of exemplary cybersecurity and share some additional tips with the public to help guard against instances of fraud and identity theft.

To protect yourself:

• Stay Informed: Keep abreast of the latest scams and fraud tactics circulating in your area and online. Knowledge is your first line of defense.
• Verify Sources: Be cautious of unsolicited emails, messages, or phone calls, especially those requesting personal or financial information. When in doubt, verify the legitimacy of the sender or caller before disclosing any sensitive details.
• Secure Your Devices: Ensure that your devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets, are equipped with up-to-date security software and firewalls. Regularly update your operating systems and applications to patch vulnerabilities.
• Use Strong Passwords: Create strong, unique passwords for each online account, incorporating a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider using a reputable password manager to securely store and manage your passwords.
• Monitor Financial Activity: Routinely review your bank statements, credit reports, and financial transactions for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. Report any discrepancies to your financial institution immediately.
• Secure Your Wi-Fi Network: Change the default username and password for your Wi-Fi router to prevent unauthorized access. Enable encryption (WPA2 or higher) and consider hiding your network’s SSID (Service Set Identifier) to add an extra layer of security.
• Update Firmware Regularly: Keep your routers, and smart devices updated with the latest firmware and security patches. Manufacturers often release updates to address known vulnerabilities.
• Implement Network Segmentation: Create separate networks for your smart devices, computers, and guests to minimize the impact of a potential breach. Segmenting your network can prevent an intruder from gaining unrestricted access to all your devices.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Whenever possible, enable two-factor authentication on your online accounts and smart devices. 2FA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a secondary verification method, such as a unique code sent to your mobile device.
• Follow up on suspicious activity quickly – notify law enforcement and your financial institutions as soon as you determine there has been fraud.

Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office