Crime & Safety

86-Year-Old Woman Interrupts Home Burglary

Belmont police are searching for the suspect, who was last seen running down an alley between Fifth and Sixth avenues.

An 86-year-old woman interrupted what Belmont police say was a likely burglary at her home in the 1400 block of Sixth Avenue on Wednesday morning.

According to Lt. Pat Halleran of the Belmont Police Dept., at approximately 9:30 a.m., the woman went to answer her doorbell, only to find no one at the door. A few moments later, she heard a noise coming from her basement and when she investigated, she found an unknown male standing in the stairwell. 

She described the suspect to police as a Hispanic male in his 30’s, approximately 5’ 8” tall with a stocky build, mustache, and wearing a black jacket. She did not report seeing or hearing a vehicle.

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Police say when the woman confronted the suspect, he ran back down the stairs and fled out the rear of the house to an alley that runs between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The woman was unhurt and it appears that nothing was taken at this time.

“This case is typical of other burglaries we and other Peninsula cities have seen in the past months.  The suspects will go to the front door to see if anyone is home and when they don’t get an answer, they go around to the side or rear and force entry, as was done in this case” said Police Chief Dan DeSmidt. 

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“We encourage residents to report suspicious activity immediately and take steps to secure their homes” DeSmidt added.

To learn more about the type of suspicious activity you should report, check the Belmont Public Safety channel on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/belmontpublicsafety

Anyone who may have information on this case or this suspect is asked to call the Belmont Police at 650-595-7400 or the Belmont Police Crime Tip Line at 650-598-3000. 

Investigators are particularly interested in talking with anyone in the area of this crime, who has security cameras that may have captured an image of the suspect.

Read more police/fire news on Belmont Patch:

Belmont Police: 'Be Vigilant and Report Suspicious Persons'

Police Catch Woman On Three-City Shopping Spree With Stolen Wallet

4 San Carlos Homes Burglarized in Past 48 Hours


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