Given that the dirtbag had a gun but no one was injured, it could've been a lot worse. The police responded very quickly to both crime scenes & public safety seemed to be their priority, balanced with trying to find the suspect. There are so many places to disappear (including a creek) in the area where he crashed the second vehicle, it's no surprise he wasn't caught.

We were not part of the police dragnet on Monday. But our home was robbed by an intruder at noon on Friday, June 23rd. We live on Charleston Rd near Hoover Elementary.

No one was in our house from 11:40 am till 12:10. During that brief time someone walked into the backyard, and crawled through the small bathroom window in the back of the house, which was slightly open and the only think unlocked at the time. My wife returned at 12:10 to find a computer and DVD player had been moved, but not taken yet. Then walked into to the bedroom and found the room just torn apart. Then in the bathroom found the window open and scuff marks on the floor. (We don't ware shoes in the house.)

While on the phone with the police she and our sone heard sounds in the garage. The police told her to get out of the house immediately. They arrived within two minutes to search the house and the neighboring homes. No one was found, but our son did see someone leaving the area in a car just before the police arrive. (Don't know if there is any connection but this person could have seen someone fleeing.)

That was on Friday (June 23rd). On Monday it appears a very similar robbery was tried, resulting car-jackings and man-hunt on Monday.

There seems to be a pattern of intrusion robberies taking place in South Palo Alto right now. Please note an unusual activity and help the Palo Alto police catch this person.

Alan - glad all is ok with you & your family. Did the police fingerprint, and if so, have you been told if there are any suspects?

Not a good pattern happening. Burglars count on things like unlocked windows during the summer.

Not in the cordoned off area - but very very close. Watching the cops going around with the guns was quite unnerving - made us wonder how exactly we would react if the suspect were to show up in our backyard ( yes .. common sense is to call 911 ... but when such things happen so close to the home, it makes one wonder if we would have the presence of mind to react in the right manner ! )

The number of such reported incidents is on the rise. Though each of us, as individual homeowners, need to be careful - is there something that we can do as an entire community ?

We were also robbed on June 12. They stole over $20,000 dollars worth of items from our home. They entered through the doggie door in the middle of the day. I wonder if there is any way to let everyone in Palo Alto know this is going on. There was a house a couple of doors down that had the same thing happen 1 month prior. We posted brochures all over our neighborhood and received many calls. Everyone that called stated that they never even new that many daytime burglaries were occuring. There has to be something we can do!

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I came home from work driving south on Greer to be greeted by an officer carrying a shotgun and a helicopter hovering overhead. Definitely something you don't see very often, if ever, having lived in Palo Alto for over 15 years.

It seems like an incredible amount of resources were expended for an unsuccesful manhunt. 30+ officers, 4 K9 units, and a 5+ hour barricade with zero results. Was it even a realistic possibility to capture this man? I imagine it takes quite a bit of time to completely seal off such a wide perimeter. The cops I drove by seemed very bored and looked unenthusiastic; as if they knew that it was a pointless effort yet were doing it for reasons other than capturing the man. Maybe I'm extrapolating a bit too much.

Regardless, it is highly distressing that this recent 'crime wave' seems to completely elude police forces day after day.

Would you prefer the police NOT respond as strongly as they could? What is additionally distressing is that the police are not being as public and accessible about making info public on the recent "crime wave" and what people can do about it.

I am wondering why the search was only focused south of Greer Park. We live on the north side of the park and had no idea that all of this activity was going on (except for the helicopter overhead). Was the suspect seen running south?

Kudos to the police for reacting in a positive and aggressive manner.
Our best protection when local crime is on the rise is to stay vigilant and communicate openly with one another. This web site is and ideal example of how we can share information. Thanks much to Palo Alto Online.
I saw a strange person parked curbside near my house and made a special effort to pass by him and make eye contact so that he knew I was at least aware of his presents. Then wrote down the license number just in case. This is not to say everyone who stops on the side of the road to eat there lunch, or kill time until there next meeting is a lurking criminal and we don't want to go to the extreme of being paranoid of every stranger we see but just be aware and vigilant.
It's also of great value to communicate with your neighbors and watch out for one another.

I've read the postings here. I’m very happy to know that we are all watching out for each other. Most if us don’t even know one another. I’m keeping my eyes open for strange looking people more often now. I can't believe what Joe said. If something was happening to him maybe he would response differently. Remember these officers are keeping us safe. They are putting their lives in front of us. They have families to go home to just like us. I believe we need to thank the Palo Alto Police Department for looking out for us.

This may be irrelevant, but in the interest of being vigilent I want to share an odd thing that happened today. We had a man on crutches appear at our door late this afternoon, saying he operates a meat delivery service of some sort. As is common, I was busy with the kids and trying to get dinner going and just wanted to politely send him on his way, but after thinking about it some more it was pretty odd. He had no paperwork in his hands, did not offer to leave any information in case I changed my mind, and reaked of cigarette smoke (not a crime in itself, just not unusual).

I did not see a vehicle and he left on foot/crutches after stopping at our neighbors house as well.

Two questions: 1) Does anyone actually know of a meat delivery service currently operating in Palo Alto? 2) Has anyone else been approached by this person?

About a week / week & half ago there was a trailer/camper parked on Loma Verde between Maddux and Bayshore. Someone was living in the camper. They had plastic containers with their stuff underneath the camper (as if to get them out of the camper to make room)

We walk our dog in that area during the evening hours. This area of the road is quite deserted - since there is no one in the commercial properties around that corner. The camper sitting there did not make me feel very safe ... at times we saw two guys in a van parked next to the camper. One time these two were arguing very loudly.

I called the PAPD to report this incident. The first time I called, the officer who took my call tried to tell me to call another number to get the camper towed away. I explained to him someone was living inside the camper ... he said he would send someone to investigate. The next day I called again - this time, someone else from the neighborhood had called the cops a little before I did. By the time I called, they had an officer on the way who tagged the camper (3 day notice to tow). The camper was gone on the following day.

When I was watching the aerial views of the crashed car during the manhunt - I was very surprised to see this camper in the picture. They have moved to Colorado .. near the intersection of Bayshore. There are no houses in this area, its the empty patch of land right at the beginning.

Off an on you see a vehicle parked on the street for a prolonged time. We have been vigilant and have been calling PAPD to report these vehicles (after asking the neighbors if the vehicle belongs to them, ofcourse ! ).This is something to be aware of - and please do call PAPD immediately !

Thanks.

Could increased policing in East Palo Alto be causing more crimes in Palo Alto?

What's eerie about this - among other things - is that the man in San Mateo who killed his wife, daughters and then himself had a meat delivery business.

You could do an online search to see if this is a real business.

On the same day as the dragnet, we had a woman going around house to house asking for gas money AND flagging down cars. A neighbor called the police on the premise that if the woman's story was true - she and her kids ran out of gs - they would welcome the assistance of the police ;)

I was thinking it may be more likely that the south PA burlgaries are a combination of convenience to the thief and the setup. A lot of the Eichlers have courtyards, gates and fences, so a thief can quickly dispappear from street and neighbor view to commit the crime.

During the time of the rapes in Palo Alto, several of which were on Middlefield, south PA female residents I know suddenly noticed how the privacy of their homes also meant that they could be more easily victimized.

Regarding E. Palo Alto - there is not that much of an increase in patrols. In fact, detectives are also patrolling due to the shortage of patrols available.

Perhaps, as a group, we should discuss concerns and propose solutions at an upcoming City Council meeting? My husband and I are certainly being more conscious of suspicious behavior and are very vigilant about keeping an eye on our neighbors' homes (and they with us). To Jim's comments about the Eichler design enabling burglary, I agree and also think that the lack of AC in most of these homes makes them attractive. Most of us Eichler dwellers leave windows open for ventilation during the summer. From now on, mine will be sealed shut when I leave my home.

Thanks to PA Online for hosting ths board.

There is a Midtown Residents Association meeting on July 18th at Friends Meeting Hall on Colorado @ 7:15pm. The focus will be Crime in our Neighborhood, with a presentation by Police Chief Lynne Johnson and information about the Neighborhood Watch program by Susie Jones, PAPD.

Ai. This issue makes me so sad. I don't like the idea of increased paranoia and suspicion, nor the idea of the police running around. I'm glad that the department is responsive, but I don't like the implication that this is a community that needs to be protected, or that needs heavy policing.

I love Alan's suggestion of organzing neighborhood walks, which would be nice for all manner of reasons (just getting to know your neighbors better could very well help the crime problem). I believe strongly, too, in the value of dialog - both of the sort happening in these online venues, and in general. It saddens me to think that we might end up becoming a more suspicious, more divided, and less helpful community as a result of this (what if the man on crutches really needed help?), and I do have hope that just engaging people in conversation - either strangers in the neighborhood about whom you might be worried, as well as those of us who do live here - will go a long way toward strengthening the community and eliminating these incidents.

Does anyone know where complete crime events and statistics for Palo Alto are compiled and published on a regular basis? Without data to trend, it's really hard to know if it's worth raising the "alert" status of a given neighborhood or community.

I also agree that the best method to increase safety is to organize with your neighbors and share information on peculiar visitors. Lock your doors and windows, even in the summer time.

So it looks like all the anti gun people's worse nightmare is coming true...ban legal gun ownership and only the criminals will have guns. Ya'll better apply for your concealed carry permits!

From the police dept's website:
National Night Out
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
6:30PM – 8:30PM

National Night Out is celebrating its 23rd annual nationwide event on Tuesday, August 1, 2006. It is designed to strengthen neighborhood spirit and unity, raise crime prevention awareness, and develop partnerships between the City and the community at every level. This is the 2nd year for the City of Palo Alto’s participation in National Night Out. Community groups such as Neighborhood Watch groups, neighborhood and homeowner associations, PANDA members and other neighborhood groups interested in celebrating and strengthening their neighborhood connections are encourage to join us.

Hosting a National Night Out party is a simple way for people to meet one another, have fun and explore how they might work together to improve the safety and quality of their neighborhood. The City of Palo Alto encourages neighborhoods to organize block parties, a dessert party, ice cream social or barbecues to promote neighborhood unity. Click on this LINK to see a sample program for hosting a party as well as game ideas.

Groups of City of Palo Alto elected officials and employees, including police and fire department staff, will visit as many parties as possible. If you register early, you will increase the likelihood of receiving a visit.

To register your party, contact Community Policing, Community Service Officer, Susie Jones at (650) 329-2632 or email her at susie.jones@cityofpaloalto.org. The deadline to register is 5:00PM on Monday July 24, 2006. Only registered groups will be eligible for a visit.

Only registered groups will be eligible for a visit. You can also click on this LINK to go to PDF version of the registration form that can be filled out on line and either sent in as an email attachment, or you can print it out and send it in.

For a Block Party Permit application: Web Link

The Palo Alto Police Department has mapped the locations of residential burglaries, as well as burglaries and thefts from autos.

To see a map of residential burglaries in the city, from April 1 to June 30: Web Link

To see a map of auto burglaries and thefts from autos in the city, from April 1 to June 30: Web Link