Alfonso Alarconnunez

An Uber driver from Santa Maria lured intoxicated women into his vehicle, followed them into their homes, raped them and stole valuables from them, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department.

Police detectives have determined Alfonso Alarconnunez,39, is employed as an Uber driver and was providing service in the city of SLO. Detectives believe Alarconnunez would search for parties in San Luis Obispo and solicit rides as an Uber driver. He would then collect payments through a Vemmo pay service in order to disguise his identity and his Uber records, police said.

After escorting the females into their homes and sexually assaulting them, Alarconnunez allegedly stole items including cell phones, computers and jewelry.

Twice over the past two weeks, Alfonso Alarconnunez, 39, allegedly trolled parties for victims. In both instances, there were multiple victims, police said.

On Wednesday, detectives served a warrant at Alarconnunez’s home in the 2300 block of Cesar Chavez Drive in Santa Maria. Detectives found several items belonging to the sexual assault victims.

Detectives arrested Alarconnunez near his home on two counts of rape of an unconscious victim, one count of oral copulation of an intoxicated victim and one count of residential burglary. Officers booked him into the San Luis Obispo County Jail with his bail set at $200,000.

San Luis Obispo police say Uber and Lyft are legitimate and responsible services that provide a benefit to community members who seek a safe alternative mode of transportation. When using the services, though, customers should confirm the identity of the driver and the vehicle through the Uber or Lyft application prior to getting inside. Also, customers should make payments through Uber and/or Lyft, not through another pay service.

The arrest of Alarconnunez came just one day after a protest on the Cal Poly campus in which speakers alleged local law enforcement officers are not arresting sexual predators. However, the protest largely focused on the alleged rape culture within the Cal Poly community.