A quiet Hillsborough block nearly turned into an easy score for would-be burglars last Saturday, until a sharp-eyed neighbor spotted something that did not sit right: an SUV idling outside a house and a couple of masked figures slipping past a gate. The call that followed cut the break-in short, police say, leaving behind a smashed window, a backpack full of tools, and one arrested driver while two suspected accomplices ran off into the dark.
How Police Say It Unfolded
According to Hillsborough police, the incident began shortly after 9:35 PM on the 300 block of West Santa Inez Avenue, when a resident reported an SUV stopped in front of a home. Officers say the driver stayed behind the wheel while two people wearing masks climbed over a gate and made noise along the side of the house. When officers arrived, they detained the driver while the SUV remained at the scene. Investigators later determined the license plates on the vehicle were allegedly stolen, and the targeted home was unoccupied, as reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal.
Arrest, Search And Evidence
With two suspects still unaccounted for, other San Mateo County agencies joined the response and officers set up a perimeter, bringing in drones and K9 teams to sweep the area. During that search, investigators say they found a rear window that had been smashed and a backpack containing burglary tools, including power tools, on the 400 block of Roblar Avenue.
The driver, described by police as a woman and a Chilean national, was booked into the San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of residential burglary, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property, according to CBS San Francisco.
Police Ask Neighbors To Check Video
With two suspects still at large, investigators are hoping home cameras caught what patrol officers could not. Police have asked residents on West Santa Inez and Roblar avenues to review surveillance footage from roughly 9 PM to 11 PM last Saturday for anything that might show the masked suspects or their path through the neighborhood. Anyone with information is urged to email Inspector Chung at [email protected] or call the Hillsborough Police Department at (650) 375-7470, as reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal.
Where This Fits For Hillsborough
For a town that prides itself on being one of the Peninsula’s calmer corners, Saturday night is the sort of incident that keeps the local police chief’s inbox full. Hillsborough police have been warning about residential burglaries for months and urging residents to harden their homes and take advantage of department services while they are at it.
The town’s first-quarter newsletter notes that the department offers free home security evaluations, vacation-watch checks, and ongoing coordination with neighboring agencies on burglary investigations, according to the Town of Hillsborough.
Legal Status And Next Steps
Police say no injuries were reported, but the legal fallout is still taking shape. The arrested driver remains in custody while investigators continue to gather evidence and prosecutors review the case for potential formal charges. Tips sent to HPD could be key to tracking down the two remaining suspects and tying together what happened on West Santa Inez and Roblar avenues, CBS San Francisco reported.
