Police Release Sketch Of Alleged Palo Alto Home Burglar

PALO ALTO - Police have released a sketch of a one of two suspects who they say broke into a Palo Alto home last Thursday afternoon but fled when confronted by a woman who was inside.

According to Palo Alto police, two burglary suspects allegedly kicked in a front door in the 1300 block of Dana Avenue just before 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 19.

Police say a woman in her sixties who was home at the time heard a crashing noise from the front of her house and went to investigate.

The woman saw an unknown man standing inside, according to police, so yelled at him and startled him.

At that point, police say a second man came running down the staircase from the second floor, and both men ran out the front door.

The woman called police, reporting she saw the two suspects running eastbound on Dana Avenue.

Police say the two would-be burglars were unable to steal any property in the short time they were inside the house.

The victim described both suspects as males in their 20s or 30s with dark skin, possibly "Polynesian", and both were close to six feet tall and about 250 pounds, according to police.

One was wearing orange shorts and a gray T-shirt, and the other was wearing dark shorts or pants and a top with a stripe or other marking on it.

The victim met with a police artist on May 23, resulting in the sketch shown of the suspect who remained by her front door in orange shorts and a gray T-shirt.

Palo Alto detectives investigating the case say there have been no similar burglaries of occupied residences in Palo Alto recently.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Palo Alto police dispatch center at 650-329-2413.

Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.orgor sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the free PAPD mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.

-artist's sketch via Palo Alto police