Posted by Chris Zaharias, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 3:42 pm

Most often used phrase in the PA police blotter: "Police set up a perimeter but the men escaped."

Maybe PA police need to go do some windsprints or something!

Posted by Joe, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 4:41 pm

> Maybe PA police need to go do some windsprints or something!

Very funny Chris. Unfortunately, MPPD wasn't able to help due to this robbery in San Carlos: Web Link

Menlo Park Police was busy covering a location in the northern part of their city and helping the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office with a search. Unfortunately, they weren't successful in locating any suspects.

These are the kind of events where a K9 could make a big difference. Too bad that these kind of things got cut back due to budget issues.

There was a similar incident in the south Palo Alto shortly before Fife Avenue. A different set of suspects. They weren't captured either.

A good day for the bad guys and bad day for the good guys.

Posted by Ducatigirl, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 8:17 pm

the big problem is that PAPD is short by about 12 positions, which have been frozen by budget cuts.

Posted by Joe is uninformed, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 8:18 pm

The police apprehended the car load of burglars from the house that was broken into in south Palo Alto just before different suspects were breaqking into the houise of Fife. Not good these suspects got away but multiple burglars were arrested yesterday for the south location.

Posted by Theresa, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 8:56 pm

So sorry to hear that neighbors of mine on Fife were burgled. I hope their stuff is found and that they find a way to feel safe again. Fife has been a very safe place to live for me and my family for the last 34 years.

Posted by nojoke, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 9:29 pm

Any newly contruction or remodeling sites down the road? yes we're constantly being watched during the daytime.

Posted by Mr.Recycle, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 10:31 pm

@Ducatigirl - We don't just need 12 more officers, we need 12 more on the street at any given time, which means hiring about 30 more.

Posted by musical, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Oct 31, 2012 at 11:09 pm

The problem with more officers is that we'd then need bigger jails, or or put the inmates back on the street more quickly.

Posted by Carol, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2012 at 10:46 am

We are moving into this neighborhood soon and I realize it's a fluke and can happen anywhere.

My only comment about more police officers is this: we need more WALKING officers. How much safer do you feel with a police car zipping by (and I do mean "zipping" - these guys always drive WAY too fast!)? One of the ways NY fixed their crime problem is by assigning cops to neighborhoods. People get to know them, and they know who looks suspect.

PAPD....please start walking around and getting to know us!

Posted by Tecsi, a resident of Los Altos Hills, on Nov 1, 2012 at 11:04 am

Would be helpful to report entry method (unlocked door, open window, broken window) on burglaries so we can implement preventative measures where possible.

Posted by Thankful, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2012 at 11:13 am

Our had a false alarm last week and the police showed up even before I hung up with the alarm company. Thank you PA police!! I am very grateful for your quick response!

Posted by Linda M., a resident of another community, on Nov 1, 2012 at 11:23 am

My home (for many years) in Fremont was burgled by a stranger who knew I was not home. They jumped the fence and broke a back window (Locked and double-paned.) I now have a security system.

They stole gold jewelry. Easy to carry away and sell.I had no electronic stuff of interest to them. Police said that criminals want gold, guns and electronics but the worst part is that one's castle has been invaded.

Unfortunately, crime is not something you can always avoid. I suggest that you may want to consider taking (electronic) precautions against home invasions unless you want to sit home and try to protect it 24 hours a day. (My neighbors noticed nothing.)

Posted by Victim too, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2012 at 12:05 pm

Our house was burgled few weeks ago in morning time, luckily we were not home. The feeling was terrible that someone violated & intruded your house. We locked all doors, windows and we have security alarms, but the burglar jumped over the sideyard fence and broke the window to get in. We felt like we spent so much efforts to avoid this, they just come to Palo Alto when they want quick money! The police can only do so much of it, but there are so many burglars nowaday. They are ants, many ants around!!! Some of them are even teenagars. Hope we can catch them all(wishful thinking).

We need to lock doors, windows & turn alarm on, and have neighbors to watch over each other.

Posted by J Lydon, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2012 at 12:31 pm

These crimes are no doubt partially caused by people who work in the area on construction sites or associated with these workers, renovations, etc..on all the home in the city. The police had better do something or the crimes will increase.m. A concerned citizen!.

Posted by the_punnisher, a resident of Mountain View, on Nov 1, 2012 at 1:17 pm
the_punnisher is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

It's too bad that the PADP doesn't issue CCW permits OR HAVE OPEN CARRY LAWS THAT LET YOU BE ARMED AT ALL TIMES!

This type of burglary means that the po-po only have to get a coroner to the crime scene to carry off the EX BURGLAR!! No 3 hots and a cot for burglars in Colorado!

Posted by KP, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2012 at 2:24 pm

@ the_punnisher

I'm with you!!

Maybe the fools will think twice before doing the crime if they think the homeowner might shoot 'em in the behind!!

Posted by bill, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2012 at 3:32 pm

Carol, Unlike New York, our suburbs are very spread out with about 465 lane miles (over 230 linear miles) of roads in Palo Alto. No way even 20 or 30 officers could cover that territory on foot.

Chris. Unless you knew the direction to go, what good are wind sprints?

The best way to deal with this problem is for all neighbors to watch for unknown people in the area and report them to the police. Unfortunately the perps snatch and grab and are usually gone in a minute or two. One can't stop them from breaking a window to get in, but neighbors may hear the noise and can report this to the police.

Posted by Hmmm, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Nov 1, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Hmmm is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

FWIW, we've had a couple of burglaries on the west side of EPA, during the day time. I know that the latest was yesterday, on Woodland, and that if the victims don't have dogs. What makes me wonder if it's possibly the same guys is that it was during the day & another recent burglary on the west side was day time, during the week, too. Unfortunately, being suspicious of every Latino man doesn't work around here...I base my suspicions on behavior of the individual, not ethnicity.

Posted by Nora Charles, a resident of Stanford, on Nov 1, 2012 at 8:41 pm

The police can't be everywhere, so maybe each neighborhood should form a version of the Guardian Angels to patrol and keep an eye on things. If nothing else, it would be great exercise!

.

Posted by burglers&Pets, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 3, 2012 at 1:10 pm

Also though, family pets also get out too, and that is such a shame when burglars break windows/sliding windows etc. and pets go missing.

An indoor dog, would bark if someone else knocked or broke a glass pane.

Posted by Nora Charles, a resident of Stanford, on Nov 5, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Nora Charles is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

burglers&Pets,

I agree, that would be terrible to come home to a burglary AND a missing pet (aka family member). Also, small purebred dogs are now being stolen during burglaries and sold, truly sickening. We really need to get these monsters off the streets and into jail.