In the early hours of March 15, San Mateo Police Department officers sprang into action after receiving a tip-off from a vigilant local, reporting two individuals peering into cars on a quiet street, the department reported. Arriving on the scene on Barneson Avenue, an officer caught a glimpse of the duo inside a vehicle—not theirs as it later emerged—before they took to their heels, setting off a chase.
The chase proved brief as the officers cordoned off the area, initiating a search that flushed out Jorge Cobac and Jose Gonzalez-Ramirez, aged 20 and 34, respectively, found crouched beneath bushes on someone's lawn. They almost got away if they chose a less obvious hiding spot. Both men were arrested, with the subsequent search turning up stolen goods in their possession and, for Gonzalez-Ramirez, the additional discovery of a concealed knife added to his slate of charges.
The police quickly reunited the pilfered items with their rightful owner, who confirmed a forced entry into his car and recognized none of the accused. Cobac is now facing charges of burglary, resisting arrest, and conspiracy, while Gonzalez-Ramirez's rap sheet also includes a concealed weapon violation.
San Mateo Police Department places high value on community involvement, urging residents to be the eyes and ears on the streets because sometimes it takes collective vigilance to ward off criminal elements prowling the peaceful enclaves of our cities. “Trust your instincts. See Something, Say Something,” the department implored.
