Attempted Carjacking Suspect Arrested In San Mateo

SAN MATEO, CA — A Peninsula man was arrested Thursday in connection with a carjacking attempt, San Mateo police said.

Francisco Carillo Suarez, 24 of South San Francisco, was arrested on suspicion of attempted carjacking and receiving stolen property, police said. He was later booked into San Mateo County Jail.

The agency at around 6:46 a.m. broadcast information about a 2018 Nissan Sentra sought in connection with a South San Francisco carjacking that occurred 20 minutes earlier, police said.

Officers shortly afterward located the Nissan parked and unoccupied in front of residence at the 100 block of N. Idaho Street, where a victim from a separate San Mateo attempted carjacking contacted an officer, police said.

The victim said he saw Carillo Suarez in the area of the parked Nissan enter the victim’s unlocked Toyota Highlander.

“Fearing Carillo Suarez would steal his vehicle, the victim opened the driver’s side door and started pulling Carillo Suarez out of the vehicle,” police said.

“While being pulled from the vehicle, Carillo Suarez made a fist and punched the victim in the chest.”

Video surveillance footage backs the victim’s account of the attempted Toyota carjacking in San Mateo, police said.

As officers conducted a search for Carillo Suarez, another attempted carjacking was reported in the 100 block of N. Grant Street, about two blocks west of where the attempted carjacking of the Toyota occurred, police said.

“The victim said when he opened the door to enter his vehicle, Carillo Suarez pushed the victim away from the door,” police said. “Carillo Suarez briefly entered the vehicle before quickly exiting.”

Carillo Suarez again fled on foot, this time northbound on N. Grant Street and then eastbound on Monte Diablo Avenue, police said.

Authorities eventually located Carillo Suarez at the corner of E. 2nd Avenue and S. Idaho Street, police said.

Two victims positively identified Carillo Suarez as the suspect in an infield line-up, police said.