Burglars Break In While Woman Housesits In Palo Alto

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.

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.

"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.