Tools Worth Thousands Of Dollars Stolen From SMC Apartment Building: Police

SAN MATEO, CA — Police said two suspects pried open a door to a maintenance room at an apartment complex and stole thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment, and fled the scene Nov. 21 in San Mateo, police announced Tuesday.

At 11:36 a.m. on Nov. 21, San Mateo Police Department officers said they received a call about a burglary on the 1600 block of S. Delaware Street. Police said they were told by a representative of the apartment complex that earlier that day two unknown suspects driving a U-Haul pick-up truck entered the apartment complex parking garage, pried open a locked door to a maintenance room and stole thousands of dollars of tools and equipment, and then fled the scene.

Police were able to get the license plate number of the pickup truck and at around 6:10 p.m. on Nov. 22, the automated license plate reader detected the U-haul and notified police.

Officers said they found the truck and arrested the driver, Vincent Williams, 42, of San Mateo, and the passenger, Jessica Pappalardo, 42, of Newark, who initially provided a false identity to officers.

Williams had an outstanding felony warrant and Pappalardo was found to be on probation.

Police said they searched the truck and found suspected fentanyl, a stun gun, a functioning digital scale and drug paraphernalia. Officers said they also found suspected methamphetamine in Williams’ pants pocket.

Williams was booked into jail for the warrant and violations of possession of burglary tools, possession of a narcotic substance with two or more prior convictions, and for being a felon in possession of a stun gun, police said.

Pappalardo was booked into jail for providing false information to a peace officer, possession of a narcotic substance for sale, possession of a narcotic substance with two or more prior convictions and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Officers said they later obtained rental agreement documentation for the U-Haul truck confirming Williams was associated with the vehicle. He was then also arrested for first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of personal identification for the purposes of committing fraud, possession of stolen property and misappropriation of lost property.