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Uploaded: Monday, October 29, 2012, 10:55 AM
Updated: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 9:19 AM
Alleged bike thieves arrested with burglary tools
Palo Alto police arrest two men for possession of drugs, stolen property
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| Two men who were arrested on El Camino Real for a bicycle theft last Thursday, Oct. 25, have been booked on an array of charges, including possession of burglary tools, Palo Alto police announced today, Oct. 30.
Police arrested Erik Hernandez-Estrada, 24, and Juan Carlos Hernandez-Ortega, 25, both of Alviso, after a Palo Alto patrol officer recognized them from surveillance video that recorded them stealing a bicycle from a residence on the 3000 block of Louis Road less than 24 hours earlier.
The officer saw the men riding bicycles in the 3000 block of El Camino Real at 10:30 a.m.
Officers stopped the men, saw that they showed signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance and detained them for further investigation.
Both men were in possession of burglary tools, including a punch tool that can be used to break windows, screwdrivers, a pry bar and metal cutters. Hernandez-Estrada was in possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a switchblade knife, police said.
Officers went to Hernandez-Ortega's Alviso home and recovered the stolen Louis Road bicycle, a Raleigh Talus valued at about $365, which was locked to a stationary bicycle stand with a cable lock. The men allegedly cut the lock and stole the bicycle around 3 p.m.
The victim reported the theft to police about 45 minutes later and provided police with video surveillance footage of the two suspects, police said. Officers have returned the bicycle to the victim.
Police believe that the bicycles the men rode when arrested are also stolen. One is a white, 21-speed Citizen folding bicycle, and the other is an orange, one-speed Huffy beach cruiser. Police are holding the two bicycles at the station until their ownership can be determined. Anyone who knows the owner of either bicycle is asked to contact the Palo Alto Police Department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413.
Hernandez-Estrada and Hernandez-Ortega were booked at the Santa Clara County Main Jail for being under the influence of a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools. All are misdemeanors. Hernandez-Estrada was also booked for possession of methamphetamine, which is a felony, and two misdemeanor charges: possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a switchblade knife.
The men have not been connected to any of the recent residential burglaries in Palo Alto, but police said residents should be aware of suspicious behavior by people on bicycles in neighborhoods. Such behavior could include leaving bicycles on sidewalks or in driveways and then approaching multiple homes on foot to knock on front doors or to open side yard gates.
Potential burglars will often ring the doorbell, posing as a solicitor or supposedly looking for someone who does not live there, police said. Residents are encouraged to speak through the doors to ask who is calling, or otherwise acknowledge in some manner that someone is home.
— Palo Alto Online staff Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Henry, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Oct 29, 2012 at 11:33 am Book em Dano!
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Posted by not a bike thief, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Oct 29, 2012 at 1:01 pm bike thieves suck
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Posted by kirby, a resident of the Fairmeadow neighborhood, on Oct 29, 2012 at 6:15 pm oh no, they arrested Erik Estrada? Now we know what happened to Ponch of Ponch and John...
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Posted by resident, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 29, 2012 at 6:49 pm What was the original theft? Did they rob someone in the middle of the street or did they steal a parked bicycle? Where and when? How were they identified?
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Posted by Ducatigirl, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 29, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Ducatigirl is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online Kirby, I thought the same thing!
But seriously, it just goes to prove that crooks are stupid!
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Posted by Jane, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Oct 29, 2012 at 10:45 pm Anybody know where they were arrested on the el camino??
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Posted by resident, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 30, 2012 at 3:22 pm The PAPD press release has much more details: Web Link
Apparently, the crooks were using cheap tools to crack cheap bike locks. All you bicycle owners, you need to know that cheap locks (all cables or non-hardened chains or non-hardened U-locks) are really easy to crack with cheap hand tools. Shame on stores that sell these cheap locks, which really just encourage bike theft.
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Posted by PAPD Smells Like Grease, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 30, 2012 at 7:45 pm Would like to say: shame on this poop police department for trying to discriminate against bicycle riders.
"Such behavior could include leaving bicycles on sidewalks or in driveways... or to open side yard gates."
Many people i know do this, including myself. This is ridiculous, police in this police state are trying to cause paranoia and influence the minds of so many easily manipulated people to get them to be their eyes. When a matter of fact they never "snitch" on themselves/colleagues for breaking the law or partaking in misconduct. What i want to also point out is that if people are just a little more careful about their assets, then the crime rate would plummet... Don't play into this tomfoolery, stand up for yourself and the rights of your fellow neighbors and citizens. A majority of police officers feel like they're above the law, and this NEEDS to be stopped. You have the right to film or take pictures of any police officers as you please, and if they try to stop you, take them to court for violating your 1st amendment rights. If you feel like the police will be getting a slap on the wrist for something they're in the wrong for, i encourage you to call/contact Palo Alto Internal Affairs:
Mr. Mike Gennaco
Phone: (323)890-5425
Email: Michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com
Mr. Robert Miller
Phone: (323)890-5425
Email: Robert.miller@oirgroup.com View the Independent Police
I want people in Palo Alto to make sure the Police Department does NOT get a new multimillion dollar building, because somehow it'll happen behind our backs as the issue is pushed under the rug. WATCH THE POLICE.
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Posted by Really??, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Oct 30, 2012 at 8:09 pm [Post removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]
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Posted by Nayeli, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 30, 2012 at 9:00 pm Thugs behind the theft of two bikes in Palo Alto are behind bars. Good for Palo Alto! Now, we just have about 1,000 more bike thefts over the last two years left to solve.
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Posted by kirby, a resident of the Fairmeadow neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 7:28 am @Jane in Barron Park
There's a press release that says they were arrested in the 3000 block of El Camino - doesn't say which side, Ventura or Barron?
resident of Midtown linked to it.
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Posted by kirby, a resident of the Fairmeadow neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 7:29 am oh yeah, this article too states 3000 block -- kind of vague, that's a long-stretch of El Camino
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Posted by Scott, a resident of Menlo Park, on Oct 31, 2012 at 11:12 am They came all the way from Alviso to Palo Alto to steal stuff? Not very smart; surely there are bikes close to where they live. Of course, they shouldn't be stealing in the first place.
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Posted by musical, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 11:24 pm Scott, a thief learns not to steal identifiable items locally, because someone is liable to recognize the goods.
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