PALO ALTO – The Palo Alto Police Department has released a photo of a wanted suspect who burglarized a home and stole the homeowners safe. According to PAPD Officer Marianna Villaescusa, “On Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at about 6:33 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call of a residential burglary that had occurred about 90 minutes earlier in the 500 block of West Crescent Drive.”
The homeowner had left to run a few errands when security footage caught the suspect as he approached the front door. The suspect canvased the front of the home before entering the backyard around 4:55 pm.
The suspect approached the front door of the home and appeared to search for other possible occupants. Seeing that the front door was locked, the suspect then entered the backyard to search for another entry point. Finding a sliding glass door that had been left unlocked, he opened the door and entered the home. The suspect stole a large suitcase and safe with jewelry and other valuable items.
The suspect is identified as being a black male between 25 and 35 years old, wearing a white tank top, with black pants, and black and white sneakers. The suspect also has identifiable tattoos on his right upper arm and left wrist.
“Suspicious behavior by strangers at your door should be reported immediately to the police,” PAPD Officer Marianna Villaescusa said. “We recommend keeping all doors and windows closed and locked when homes are unoccupied.”
The PAPD is asking the public’s help if any witnesses may have seen a black male struggling with a large heavy suitcase during the burglar’s initial getaway. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.