Photo: Paresh Patel
MARTINEZ — The long arm of the law nabbed a burglary suspect about a quarter a mile away from a burglarized home—with the loot and victim’s identification still in his possession.
A woman called 911 on April 26 at about 7 a.m. to report a burglary had just occurred. The victim told police that she confronted a man who entered her home on the 2800 block of Castro Street through a window.
The man immediately ran away taking with him the woman’s purse and a large sum of money, but not fast enough to avoid being caught by the police.
Martinez police officers arrived a short time later and detained the burglary suspect near the intersection of Estudillo Street and Shell Road, while still investigating the incident.
An officer returned to the victim’s home and brought her to the location where the suspect was being detained, and she positively identified him as the man who entered her home and stole her purse.
Officers questioning the man found in his possession approximately $600 in cash allegedly stolen from the victim, along with her identification and credit cards.
The suspect, Paresh Patel, 48 of Lodi, was arrested and booked shortly afterward at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond. He’s charged with first degree burglary. Bail for his release was set for $50,000.
Patel has several prior arrests in San Joaquin County on his record for DUIs involving alcohol and drugs, indecent exposure, vandalism, and other offenses.
