PALO ALTO – For the second time this month, a burglar broke into an occupied home in Palo Alto, police said.
Authorities are investigating if the latest incident is connected to the previous burglary, as well as four prowling cases that were reported over the holiday weekend.
The most recent burglary occurred at 2 a.m. Monday in the 1300 block of Forest Avenue. Later that day, a resident called police after noticing four handbags were missing from the dining room table. She reviewed surveillance footage and saw a person she did not know enter the home through an unlocked back door, police said.
The person then walked into the dining room, took the handbags and left through the same door, police said. The resident, a woman in her 40s, said she was home at the time with her husband and young child. The handbags were valued at more than $10,000.
From the footage, police were only able to tell the person was male and dressed in a light-colored sweatshirt.
The burglary follows one on Feb. 8 in the 2600 block of Cowper Street. In that case, a cellphone, tablet computer and purse were taken by a burglar while the occupants slept. No arrests have been announced in that case. Police are investigating if the case is connected to Monday’s burglary.
Police said detectives are also investigating the possibility that the burglary might be connected to four prowling cases that were reported Sunday. In those cases, residents noticed the suspect on surveillance footage hours after the incidents occurred.
The prowling cases all occurred between 3 and 4 a.m. at occupied residences in the 3800 block of Nathan Way, the 3500 block of Ross Road and the 700 block of Christine Drive, police said. The suspect appeared to enter side and rear yards via unlocked gates and tried to open doors. Nothing was reported stolen in any of the incidents.
Police said the suspect might be associated with a black four-door sedan.
Anyone with information related to the cases can contact police at 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.
Source: www.mercurynews.com