Cell Phone Leads Police To Los Altos Burglar

LOS ALTOS - A stolen Los Altos cell phone retained all the information local police needed in order to track down a man they believe committed burglaries in Los Altos and San Jose.

Juan Carlos Lopez was arrested Wednesday, January 13, in San Jose for burglary, possession of stolen property valued at under $950, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lopez kept the stolen phone, and tracking information located him.

Los Altos Police say they were investigating a theft from an unlocked vehicle in the 100 block of Chester Circle in Los Altos. Video footage showed a man on a bicycle opening an unlocked vehicle door and entering the vehicle.

A cellular phone was stolen from the vehicle and the owner was able to provide police with tracking information for the cell phone.

The cell phone track led Los Altos detectives to the downtown area of San Jose where they stopped Lopez. Lopez was in possession of stolen property from the unlocked vehicle in Los Altos.

Detectives say while they were speaking with Lopez, patrol officers were dispatched to a second burglary, this time in the 4700 Block of El Camino Real in San Jose.

Video footage was quickly relayed to the detectives who were still with Lopez in San Jose.

Lopez was positively identified as the suspect in the second burglary on El Camino Real, police say.

The Los Altos Police Department is asking the public to be vigilant in:

• Securing all parked vehicles by locking doors and rolling up the windows: Locked vehicles and closed windows help prevent thieves who are unwilling to break in from stealing owners’ valuables. Additionally, removing or concealing valuables such as cellular phones, purses, wallets and other items of value will discourage would-be thieves from breaking in or entering the vehicle since they cannot see what they will get for their efforts.
• Reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods (i.e. any individuals exhibiting behavior consistent with “casing” their neighborhood, aggressive solicitors, suspicious vehicles not known to the neighborhood, etc.). When calling, the public is asked to articulate specific observations, which would substantiate their suspicions.
• Securing their homes: Though home burglary was not a factor in this case, residents should take action to secure their homes against burglars. There are a variety of preventative measures community members can take to secure their homes and deter criminal activity. Some of these techniques include installing burglar alarms, locking perimeter gates and access points, installing exterior motion lights, and video surveillance systems. Any residents interested in receiving a free home security inspection are asked to contact Community Service Officer Josh Cottrell at (650) 947-2647.

Please report suspicious activity to the Los Altos Police Department at (650) 947-2770. For emergency calls, or suspected in-progress crimes, please dial 9-1-1

-image via Los Altos Police