Police are asking for the public’s help identifying a man accused of breaking into Smoke Bros, a smoke shop in the 9900 block of Rosedale Highway, and stealing several items. The Bakersfield Police Department says the burglary happened October 3; investigators have not publicly identified a suspect.
The department has not said what was taken. In a public appeal, police described the suspect and provided contact information for anyone who may recognize him, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
Police describe the suspect as a man in his 30s, last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and tan boots. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ko at (661) 326-3541 or the department at (661) 327-7111, per the same report.
A Separate Smoke Era Investigation
A separate investigation involving Smoke Era, another shop on Rosedale Highway, resulted in 13 arrests, including four juveniles, according to BakersfieldNow, citing the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
The Kern County Sheriff's Office Crimes Against Persons Division investigated that case with help from the Bakersfield Police Department's Gang Suppression Unit. The arrests involved robbery, conspiracy and gang-related charges, the report said.
The Smoke Era investigation is separate from the Smoke Bros burglary. Police have not announced a connection between the cases, and the information released about the Smoke Bros investigation does not link them.
How the Smoke Era Incidents Differed
The Kern County Sheriff's Office said four masked suspects robbed an employee at gunpoint at Smoke Era, in the 9500 block of Rosedale Highway, on February 3, 2026, stealing more than $3,000 worth of merchandise. The store was robbed again six days later, according to the BakersfieldNow report cited above. Those incidents were described as armed robberies; the Smoke Bros case is described by police as a break-in and theft.
For now, the Smoke Bros burglary remains an open case, with no suspect publicly identified or arrested. Police are counting on the public's eyes to help close the gap, and anyone with information is urged to come forward.
