Palo Alto residents have been shaken by a series of burglaries that occurred yesterday, with two of the homes occupied at the time of the break-ins, according to the local police department. The first incident occurred at approximately 9:26 PM on Nelson Drive when a woman in her thirties alerted authorities after witnessing two masked intruders venture through her side yard and break her rear glass door, reports Palo Alto Government News.
Police arrived on scene to witness the suspects entering a dark vehicle, a futile chase ensued when they attempted to stop the suspects' vehicle, but it sped away leading to a high-speed pursuit and, ultimately, it remains unknown if the suspects managed to steal anything from the first residence. Just eight minutes later, a man in his forties discovered his El Capitan Place home ransacked and heard noises inside as his child reported seeing an individual crawling on the ground, prompting them to flee the house and inform the Palo Alto Police, who established a perimeter and called in support from neighboring forces, though the suspect evaded capture.
The spree continued with a report of another burglary, this time at an unoccupied home on Cardinal Way, where the intruders smashed a rear slider window and stole several jewelry items, marking a clear distinction from the prior two attempts, where it was uncertain if the burglars left with any loot. The Palo Alto Police, intensifying their investigation into the break-ins, urge anyone with information to contact their 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413 or to report anonymously via text or voice message at (650) 383-8984. They also encourage the use of their “TipNow-Palo Alto” mobile app.
