A resident, alerted to the presence of two residential burglars in her side yard by home security cameras last night, called out to them while dialing 9-1-1. The suspects had forced entry to her home but fled upon hearing the home was occupied. The suspects are unknown and at large.
On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at about 9:12 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call of a residential burglary in progress at a home in the 1400 block of Byron Street. The resident, a woman in her fifties, reported she was at home alone and had been notified by her home security cameras that two suspects had entered her unlocked side yard gate. She immediately called 9-1-1 and then yelled out “hello,” and heard one of the suspects curse before they fled.
Officers responded immediately and discovered the home’s rear sliding glass door had been shattered. Police believe the burglars entered the home but upon hearing the victim call out and learning the home was occupied, immediately fled. The victim reported nothing was missing.
The two suspects appeared to be wearing sweatshirts with the hoods up, and face masks that completely obscured their faces. They were also wearing gloves. A neighborhood check for area surveillance cameras revealed a dark four-door sedan, possibly a Dodge Charger, leaving the area southbound on Byron Street at a high rate of speed at the time of the burglary. Police are not releasing any surveillance footage, as they would not aid in the ready identification of either the suspects or the vehicle.
Police are investigating any possible connection between this case and a similar interrupted residential burglary of an occupied home that occurred on April 21 in the 1500 block of Dana Avenue (read the news release we distributed about that crime here), as well as a residential burglary of an unoccupied home reported this morning at 7:16 a.m. that occurred last night at about 8:52 p.m. in the 00 block of Jordan Place. That case remains under investigation at this time, but preliminary information suggests two suspects broke in via a window in the rear yard while the residents were not home. Any loss from that crime is unknown at this time.
Most residential burglars commit their crimes during the day, when homes are more likely to be unoccupied and the chance of a confrontation with a resident are correspondingly reduced. If you have a side yard gate, police recommend putting a lock on it to prevent easy unauthorized access to your property. Police also recommend securing all windows and doors overnight. If you choose to hide a key outside your residence in the event you ever get locked out, recognize that involves a potential risk; as an alternative, consider leaving a spare house key with a trusted neighbor. For more crime prevention tips to help you stay safe, visit our Crime Prevention Tips page at www.cityofpaloalto.org/StopCrime.
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 [email protected] or sent via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.
