Photo: Melvin Gonzalez-Gochez
San Mateo Police Departments official Facebook page reports of a young man who tried to burglarize and apartment and hide from the police; The K-9 officer had other plans –
“San Mateo Police Department arrested a suspect for burglary after staff at an assisted living facility witnessed the burglar inside a resident’s living room. Officers apprehended the suspect as he was hiding in the exterior stairwell.
On Monday, April 20, 2020 at 4:21 a.m., San Mateo Police Department officers were called to Atria Park Assisted Living Facility located at 2883 S Norfolk Street on reports of a burglary in progress. Facility staff responded to an apartment home after the resident heard someone outside of their bedroom.
Upon entering the home, a staff member told police she witnessed a suspicious man jump out of the living room window. Police officers quickly arrived on scene and set up a perimeter in the area. The suspect was located hiding at the top of an exterior stairwell and officers took him into custody with the help of a police canine. The burglar was transported to San Mateo County Jail and booked on burglary charges.
20-year-old Melvin Gonzalez-Gochez was booked for first-degree burglary.
As SMPD tackles this investigation, we ask our community to safeguard your properties with these tips:
Talk with your neighbors – We have one of the most active neighborhood watch programs in the county. Join your neighbors in addressing neighborhood issues.
Lock all doors and windows – Remind your family to check windows and doors.
Light it up – Ensure bright lights are on around your entire home.
Invest in Surveillance – We’re encouraging our community to utilize security cameras. They are especially helpful in identifying suspicious activity in neighborhoods when cameras are street facing. Our officers regularly canvass for surveillance and you can help us by notifying SMPD cameras are in your neighborhood at www.cityofsanmateo.org/NEST.”
