Pre-Trial Conference Pushed Back for Alleged Burglars Spotted by Mail Carrier

The pre-trial conference for three men accused of in Belmont after an alert mailman intervened has been pushed back to Tuesday, while the trial is still set for the end of the month.

Belmont man Tele Kalafi Matangi, 23, and East Palo Alto residents Tavasa Kipiloti Pale, 19, and Erik Cabrera Palomares, 18, have pleaded not guilty in San Mateo County Superior Court to charges that could bring the men several years in prison if convicted.

The men were spotted by the mail carrier shortly before 2 p.m. on July 18 loitering near a home in the 400 block of Yorkshire Way, according to prosecutors.

The carrier knew the residents were unlikely to be home mid-day on a Monday, and saw the backyard gate was open and the dog had been let out.

The carrier notified Belmont police, who allegedly found them close by carting two bags of property stolen from the home.

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

They are due back in court for the pre-trial conference on Sept. 20.

Matangi remains in custody on $100,000 bail, Pale on $50,000 bail. Palomares posted a $50,000 bail bond and is free, prosecutors said.