Full Notification

After a masked suspect forcefully stole a poodle and fled in a vehicle, the swift action of police officers led to the apprehension of the suspect and the safe return of the pooch to its owner.
 
San Mateo, CA – On December 8, 2025, at 9:05 a.m., the San Mateo Police Department responded to the area of Hayward Avenue and Palm Avenue on report of a dog being stolen. Officers arrived and learned the victim was walking her daughter’s dog in the area of Palm Avenue when a masked suspect approached the victim from behind. The suspect picked up the leashed canine and tried to pull the dog away from the victim. The action nearly caused the victim to fall, and the suspect was able to unhook the dog’s leash, fleeing with the poodle in a nearby vehicle.
 
Officers determined the vehicle’s direction of travel based on witness statements and were able to initiate a traffic stop on Highway 101, just north of Marsh Road. Based on the probable cause established in the investigation, David Frankhauser was placed under arrest for second-degree robbery, and the canine was safely transported back to their family. This was a targeted incident involving known parties.
 
We ask our community members to stay alert.  We need community support in reporting crimes and suspicious activities. If you see a suspicious person, vehicle, or activity, call SMPD. Trust your instincts. If You See Something, Say Something. Be a responsible pet owner. Please spay or neuter your pets, and microchip/register your animals. Make sure to keep clear documentation records of ownership, medical treatments and the like.
  
ARRESTED
David Frankhauser, 33-year-old San Diego resident
 
CHARGES:
PC 211-Second-degree robbery