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Police seek suspect in string of burglaries

Ramona's Pizza is latest Palo Alto business to be burglarized

Palo Alto police are looking for a suspect in a string of commercial burglaries, including a Wednesday morning (Aug. 24) burglary at Ramona's Pizza.

Police said the burglar has been targeting small local businesses, including restaurants and salons, since 2009. The suspect typically enters the business from the back door or through the window during early morning hours.

That appears to be what happened at Ramona's Pizza early Wednesday morning. The suspect allegedly stole cash and a bicycle, according to a police statement.

Police have not yet identified the suspect, but they obtained infrared surveillance footage from several burglaries. Police believe the burglar is responsible for more than 10 burglaries, including ones in Monterey, Los Altos, Mountain View, San Mateo and Beverly Hills. Several agencies have reported similar burglaries to the ones that occurred in Palo Alto, police Agent Max Nielepko said in a statement.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is encouraged to call the Palo Alto Police Department burglary detectives at 650-329-2128. Residents can also send anonymous emails to paloalto@tipnow.org or send anonymous voice messages and texts to 650-383-8984.

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Gennady Sheyner
 
Gennady Sheyner covers the City Hall beat in Palo Alto as well as regional politics, with a special focus on housing and transportation. Before joining the Palo Alto Weekly/PaloAltoOnline.com in 2008, he covered breaking news and local politics for the Waterbury Republican-American, a daily newspaper in Connecticut. Read more >>

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Police seek suspect in string of burglaries

Ramona's Pizza is latest Palo Alto business to be burglarized

Palo Alto police are looking for a suspect in a string of commercial burglaries, including a Wednesday morning (Aug. 24) burglary at Ramona's Pizza.

Police said the burglar has been targeting small local businesses, including restaurants and salons, since 2009. The suspect typically enters the business from the back door or through the window during early morning hours.

That appears to be what happened at Ramona's Pizza early Wednesday morning. The suspect allegedly stole cash and a bicycle, according to a police statement.

Police have not yet identified the suspect, but they obtained infrared surveillance footage from several burglaries. Police believe the burglar is responsible for more than 10 burglaries, including ones in Monterey, Los Altos, Mountain View, San Mateo and Beverly Hills. Several agencies have reported similar burglaries to the ones that occurred in Palo Alto, police Agent Max Nielepko said in a statement.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is encouraged to call the Palo Alto Police Department burglary detectives at 650-329-2128. Residents can also send anonymous emails to paloalto@tipnow.org or send anonymous voice messages and texts to 650-383-8984.

Comments

Nayeli
Midtown
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Nayeli, Midtown
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:03 pm

Is it just me, or does the guy look like he is wearing some sort of tape/mask/disguise on his face?


Hmmm
East Palo Alto
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Hmmm, East Palo Alto
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:11 pm

Uh, a description would be helpful...


David
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:21 pm
David, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:21 pm

The funny lines on the face are from infrared images. Facial hair may be the reason for the wierd facial textures.


durant
South of Midtown
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:22 pm
durant, South of Midtown
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:22 pm

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]


frank
College Terrace
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:33 pm
frank, College Terrace
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:33 pm

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]


percursor
Southgate
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:40 pm
percursor, Southgate
on Aug 26, 2011 at 3:40 pm

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]


JustMe
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Aug 26, 2011 at 4:11 pm
JustMe, Duveneck/St. Francis
on Aug 26, 2011 at 4:11 pm

To the poster in several of the above posts: Do you ever post with the same handle twice? Your inane and off-topic messages and your typing style seem to give you away as one poster under multiple handles in many threads on this board.

Just for the record, the PAPD is the best. I love those guys. If you have a problem with them, then I have a problem with you. "It don't get no better than dem." If you have had problems with PAPD in the past, then I suggest you first examine what you did to attract their unwanted attention and how you can fix it. Don't tell me "Dey harrassed me an' I wasn't doin' nuttin'. All I was doin' was helpin' some old lady offload her purse."


samesex
Southgate
on Aug 26, 2011 at 4:22 pm
samesex, Southgate
on Aug 26, 2011 at 4:22 pm

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]


Joe
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 26, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Joe, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 26, 2011 at 5:25 pm

It's good to see the police releasing pictures. Even though these pictures are not of particularly high quality, it's good to know that the police are providing the public some sort of specific information about the person(s) they are looking for.

Not certain I would recognize this person in full color and standing in front of me, but someone who knows this fellow might.

It's also good to see the police encouraging merchants/businesses to buy/install/use surveillance equipment.


photos
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 26, 2011 at 5:37 pm
photos, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 26, 2011 at 5:37 pm

The photos are not detailed enough to recognize a stranger on the street, but they may help you recognize someone you already know. They also help the police figure out if the same person commits crimes in different locations.


JustMe
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Aug 26, 2011 at 6:00 pm
JustMe, Duveneck/St. Francis
on Aug 26, 2011 at 6:00 pm

There is a lot of information to be gotten from the pictures. You can see how many people entered the store, the approximate size of the person, the time and movements of that person. (The movements tell the police where to go for more evidence. For instance, if he uses a paper cup to get a drink from the cooler and leaves it in an identifiable place, they might pull DNA from it.) You can see his manner of dress and videos will show his energy level (young/old) and if he has a limp. You will not get a conviction on the strength f those pictures alone, but those pictures might point you to where you can get better evidence.

remove, I am puzzled. How did you arrive at "bigoted"? But I can agree that many people feel a little prejudicial against someone who can't even use capitalization or grammar. And please try to stay on-topic a little more. It's all about communications skills.


another robbery
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 27, 2011 at 9:35 am
another robbery, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 27, 2011 at 9:35 am

There was another robbery last night. Witnesses are describing a young white man driving a green VW Jetta. Is this the same guy as in the photos?


another robbery
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 28, 2011 at 8:33 am
another robbery, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 28, 2011 at 8:33 am

White male named Gabriel Thomas Durand was arrested last night for burglary near Greer Park.


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