A Palo Alto man was robbed Friday morning after he walked in on a burglary that was taking place at his home on Edgewood Drive, police said.
The alleged robber, identified as 21-year-old Jose Silva, was arrested less than 15 minutes after the crime was reported while walking near the Newell Road bridge into East Palo Alto.
Police said the burglary and robbery occurred at around 11 a.m. Friday on the 2300 block of Edgewood Drive. The homeowner, a man in his 50s, reportedly returned home and found a man inside his residence, rummaging through drawers. When the homeowner interrupted the burglary, the man demanded cash from him, police said. The homeowner then handed over the cash and the man ran out the door, grabbing some miscellaneous personal items along the way, police said.
The homeowner reportedly called the police at about 11:17 a.m. and provided the description of the robbery suspect. At about 11:30 a.m., a Palo Alto officer spotted a pedestrian matching the description near the Newell Road bridge. The officer stopped the pedestrian, recovered the stolen items and placed him under arrest, police said.
Silva, a resident of East Palo Alto, was booked at the Santa Clara Main Jail for residential burglary, robbery (both felonies) and a felony parole violation relating to a prior residential burglary. Police believe he had gotten into the Edgewood Drive home by climbing over the fence and entering through an unlocked sliding door, which was open.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the police department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
Police also issued a reminder to residents to always close and lock doors and windows whenever leaving a home unoccupied. More crime-prevention tips are available at cityofpaloalto.org/StopCrime.
Comments
Crescent Park
on Feb 6, 2016 at 8:09 am
on Feb 6, 2016 at 8:09 am
"Silva, a resident of East Palo Alto, was booked at the Santa Clara Main Jail for residential burglary, robbery (both felonies) and a felony parole violation relating to a prior residential burglary."
Out of prison on parole for the same crime...
And perhaps -- but hopefully not -- he'll be paroled again.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 6, 2016 at 9:36 am
on Feb 6, 2016 at 9:36 am
I would describe this as happening in Crescent Park neighborhood.
Midtown
on Feb 6, 2016 at 9:58 am
on Feb 6, 2016 at 9:58 am
Yikes. That sounds like a really alarming experience for the homeowner. I;m glad no one was hurt.
As is so often the case, the burglar does not sound like the smartest of individuals. Congratulations to the PAPD for spotting and nailing him!
Crescent Park
on Feb 6, 2016 at 3:19 pm
on Feb 6, 2016 at 3:19 pm
[Portion removed.]
Glad the homeowner is ok, and thanks to the Palo Alto Police for their quick and successful response.
Barron Park
on Feb 7, 2016 at 7:11 am
on Feb 7, 2016 at 7:11 am
[Post removed.]
Crescent Park
on Feb 8, 2016 at 5:59 am
on Feb 8, 2016 at 5:59 am
Waiting for the "remove the Newell Bridge" chants to start up again.
Professorville
on Feb 8, 2016 at 11:13 am
on Feb 8, 2016 at 11:13 am
anonymous -
<< I would describe this as happening in Crescent Park neighborhood.>>
If so, note that this block has the Eichlers, by the 101 sound wall.
Downtown North
on Feb 8, 2016 at 11:25 am
on Feb 8, 2016 at 11:25 am
Clearly, residents should never leave doors unlocked even if it's a backyard patio slider, often behind a locked gate area. Glad the resident is o.k.!
Midtown
on Feb 8, 2016 at 12:14 pm
on Feb 8, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Glad to hear that the homeowner is and equally glad this loser has be re-arrested
Good job PAPD!
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 8, 2016 at 12:46 pm
on Feb 8, 2016 at 12:46 pm
@Anonymous
Technically, we are the Green Gables Addition, but identify as Duveneck/St Francis.
East Palo Alto
on May 6, 2016 at 11:14 am
on May 6, 2016 at 11:14 am
It's sad when people are so quick to judge another person for making a mistake. You don't know what this guy was going through and what pushed him to do it. You wouldn't understand if you have never gone through the struggles he was going through. He's from East Palo Alto which right there tells you he already has it rough. Now take other possibilities in consideration does he have a family he needed to provide for? Did he get laid off from his job? Did he need to make fast money for his kid and wife? And sure you say well he should get a job, well what if he really tried to and noone was calling him back? What if people judged him for his prior inflictions that they marked him as unsuitable for the job? What if he was tired of being rejected over and over again so he turned to the one thing he promised himself he wouldn't do? There's a lot that goes into these kind of things. Don't be quick to judge.
Palo Alto High School
on May 6, 2016 at 11:42 am
on May 6, 2016 at 11:42 am
No, Sesilia, there is no excuse for Joe. He is a fairly good-looking guy and could easily get a job but it's just easier to steal from others. And he's a repeat offender, it wasn't a one-off. He needs to get a job and integrity.
I'm relieved that he didn't hurt the homeowner (physically). But I am always surprised to find out that people still leave window open and doors unlocked — that's the first line of defense! The reason people in our neighborhood have been burglarized is due to open windows and doors.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 6, 2016 at 12:30 pm
on May 6, 2016 at 12:30 pm
The suspect is a repeat offender that intentionally walked at least a mile to climb over a fence in broad daylight, enter a stranger's home and then rob the owner when discovered. More than likely, he is conducting such extreme behavior to support a drug habit and/or provide resources for a local gang network.
The perpetrator is young, apparently healthy and athletic enough to navigate a residential obstacle course in pursuit of his prize. There are government, church and community resources to help people in need. For every example of predators like this one, there are many, many more of disadvantaged people who do not give in to a life of crime.
Sadly, he has chosen a path of self destruction and it is outrageous to blame others for his circumstances. Hopefully he will turn his life around before he hurts somebody or becomes a permanent part of the judicial system.
Southgate
on May 6, 2016 at 12:41 pm
on May 6, 2016 at 12:41 pm
[Post removed.]