Authorities Release Booking Photos of Alleged Belmont Burglars Caught by Mailman

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office has released the booking photos of three suspects caught allegedly burglarizing a Belmont home by an attentive mailman last week.

Belmont resident Tele Kalafi Matangi, 23, and East Palo Alto residents Tavasa Kipiloti Pale and Erik Cabrera Palomares, both 18, have in San Mateo County Superior Court following their arrest July 18.

The men were spotted by a mail carrier shortly before 2 p.m. June 18  loitering near a home in the 400 block of Yorkshire Way, and saw the gate to the home's backyard was open, Belmont police Capt. Dan DeSmidt said.

The mail carrier, believing the men didn't look like residents of the home, called 911 and reported the incident to the police.

When Belmont officers responded, they discovered the home had indeed been burglarized, and were able to link the three men to the crime, DeSmidt said.

The trio were taken into custody without incident and have been charged in court with burglary and possession of stolen property.

Time for their preliminary hearing was not waived at their plea entry, and the court set a date of Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. for the preliminary hearing.

Bail was set at $100,000 for Matangi, and $50,000 for Pale and Palomares. All three men remain in custody.

Belmont detectives are still investigating whether the suspects may be linked to similar crimes throughout the Peninsula.

Belmont police credit the help of the alert mailman and neighbors for recognizing the suspicious behavior of the suspects that afternoon, and for deciding to call the police.

That's what neighbors should do in such situations, police say.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to call Belmont police at 650-595-7400.