A Friday night in Palo Alto took a sudden turn when a woman in her seventies scared off a would-be burglar at her home after hearing a noise and finding a smashed rear sliding glass door. Officers arrived within minutes, but the suspect was already gone and, police say, nothing was taken.
Police Details
According to a news release from the Palo Alto Police Department, the break-in happened last Friday evening in the 800 block of Driftwood Drive, when an unknown suspect forced entry by smashing a rear sliding glass door. The resident confronted the attempt, and the suspect took off before officers got to the scene. Detectives are actively investigating the incident, which remains open.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the department’s 24-hour dispatch at (650) 329-2413, submit anonymous tips via (650) 383-8984, or use the TipNow-Palo Alto app, according to the Palo Alto Police Department.
Not an Isolated Case
This latest scare follows other interrupted occupied-home burglaries reported in the city in recent weeks and months. The Palo Alto Daily Post reported a Feb. 5 incident on Maple Street where residents chased off intruders, and in another October case a resident found an intruder inside the house.
Police are urging residents to secure sliding doors and to report any suspicious people or vehicles in their neighborhoods. Detectives say that any video or photos from nearby homes could help as they follow leads, and officers continue canvassing the area while the investigation moves forward.
