Series Of El Camino Real Thefts May Be Linked To Same Men: Police

BELMONT, CA — Two Oakland men were arrested Wednesday in Belmont after committing a smash-and-grab burglary in town, police said Thursday. The duo, identified as Juan Flores-Zamora and Oswaldo Toscano, may also be responsible for several similar break-ins in the region, according to police.

Belmont Police Capt. Patrick Halleran says authorities were alerted to a car burglary in the 500 block of El Camino Real around 7:35 p.m. Wednesday. The vehicle was parked in a local business lot when it was targeted.

"Officers responded to the scene and determined that two males, associated to with a gray 2002 Acura Integra, had smashed a window on the victim's car and took a brown handbag before fleeing on El Camino," Halleran said in a news release.

Responding police officers soon spotted the Integra in the 1400 block of El Camino, Halleran said.

Flores-Zamora and Toscano were arrested without incident and the bag taken in the burglary was recovered. They were both booked into the Redwood City jail on suspicion of burglary, possession of burglary tools and conspiracy, according to Halleran.

"Investigators believe that they may be tied to a series of similar break-ins that have been occurring along El Camino on the Peninsula," Halleran said, adding that Belmont investigators are now working with neighboring law enforcement agencies.