Crime & Safety
Burglars Break In While Woman Housesits In Palo Alto
The victim told police she heard noises in the backyard and the sound of breaking glass before coming face-to-face with a burglar.
![Police said surveillance video showed three men in dark clothing fleeing in a dark sedan.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/23562256/20240123/031807/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-654739615___23151746742.jpg)
PALO ALTO, CA — Detectives are searching for three unidentified suspects after they broke into a Palo Alto home and were confronted by a woman who was housesitting for a friend, according to police.
Police said the woman called 911 around 7:30 p.m. Friday, reporting a break-in that had just occurred on Center Drive. Officers arrived at the scene and discovered the suspects had already fled.
The woman told police she was watching the home for a friend when she heard noises in the backyard, followed by voices and the sound of breaking glass. When she went to check, the woman told investigators she came face-to-face with a stranger in the living room. She ran to the nearest bedroom, locked the door and called 911.
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Police obtained surveillance video, which officers said showed three men wearing dark clothing get in the back of a dark sedan parked nearby. Officers said the video also showed the men enter the house after breaking a glass sliding door in the backyard, and leaving the scene about three minutes later. Investigators also discovered a broken latch on a locked gate leading into the yard.
The woman told police the man she saw was wearing dark clothes, a face mask and a beanie. Investigators said the men had rummaged through at least two of the home's rooms before they left, but it was unclear if anything was stolen.
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"Most residential burglars commit their crimes during the day, when homes are more likely to be unoccupied and the chance of a confrontation with a resident are correspondingly reduced," the department said. "If you have a side yard gate, police recommend putting a lock on it to prevent east unauthorized access to your property; it is rare that suspects attempt to defeat locks and/or latches, like they did in this particular case."
Anyone with information that could help police identify the three men can contact dispatch at 650-329-2413 or leave a tip at 650-383-8984.
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