Alleged Prowler Arrested In Palo Alto After Late Night Break-In

PALO ALTO, CA — A Palo Alto man is accused of prying open a patio door and entering a house moments before he was discovered by the homeowner inside.

According to police, a man called 911 from his Emerson Street home a few minutes before midnight on Nov. 24.

Investigators said a man in his 50s told officers he was in an upstairs bedroom when he heard noises coming downstairs. The victim said he went to investigate and found a stranger standing in his kitchen. According to police, the man claimed to have entered the home mistakenly and fled from the property.

Officers reviewed home surveillance, which police said showed the suspect prying a lock on the door adjacent to the kitchen. The victim said nothing appeared to be missing or damaged.

Police in the area found a man matching the description nearby and took him into custody without incident. He was booked in the Main Jail on suspicion of prowling, trespassing and vandalism, with a recommendation for the DA's office to pursue a burglary charge.