3 Men Accused Of Stealing Safes From Palo Alto Restaurants

PALO ALTO, CA — Three men from San Francisco have been arrested in connection with a rash of thefts targeting restaurant safes in Palo Alto, according to police.

The first incident occurred on Dec. 23, when a worker called dispatch to report an overnight burglary at the Local Union 271 restaurant. Police said further investigation revealed multiple suspects had entered through a rear door around 4 a.m. and removed a safe containing approximately $5,000.

On Dec. 26, police said an employee at the Nola restaurant reported a similar overnight burglary. Investigators determined multiple suspects entered the building through a rear door around 2 a.m. and stole a safe containing approximately $4,000.

A month later, on Jan. 28, a worker at the Ettan restaurant reported another burglary. Police determined the suspects entered through a rear door and removed a safe containing approximately $7,000.

Police say an investigation revealed three suspects who each worked as subcontractors for a company that provided overnight cleaning services to each of the restaurants targeted. Authorities identified the suspects on Monday as Marcos David Umana Romero, 29, Jose Roberto Rogriguez, 31, and Armando Aguilar Sevillas, 27, all of San Francisco.

Detectives secured arrest warrants for the trio and arrested them in San Francisco last week.

All three men were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of felony commercial burglary and felony conspiracy.

Police are investigating whether more suspects were involved in the alleged scheme, and if the suspects may be responsible for other recent burglaries in the area.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact dispatch at 650-329-2413.