News Digest News Digest (February 09, 2005)

Auto thefts on rise

The number of reported auto thefts in Palo Alto jumped nearly 50 percent last year and police are warning residents to take precautions.

There were 137 cars reported stolen in 2004, up from 93 in 2003, according to statistics compiled by the Palo Alto Police Department. From 1999 to 2003, car thefts averaged approximately 100 per year.

Thieves especially targeted Hondas and Acuras from the late 1980s, early 1990s, Detective Ken Kratt said. They can use older or "shaved" keys to open the doors and start the engines of those models, he noted.

"It's not going to stop because it's so easy," Kratt said.

The detective advised making sure car doors are always locked, and buying a Club to lock the steering wheel.

Most stolen cars are recovered once the radio is removed, according to Kratt. Many of the thefts occurred at the Stanford Shopping Center and the Tan Plaza apartments in South Palo Alto.

Other than car thefts, rates for reported crimes in Palo Alto for 2004 were relatively stable from previous years. The tally can be found at www.papd.org by clicking the "Monthly Activity Report" link. --Bill D'Agostino
Three arrested in prostitution sting

A condominium in stately old Palo Alto was raided Thursday night as a "house of ill fame." Three adults were arrested on prostitution-related charges after Palo Alto police concluded a three-week surveillance of 780 University Ave.

Detectives reported that the surveillance was triggered by a complaint from an unidentified citizen who noticed "multiple men frequenting the condominium" while only women lived there.

Based on the surveillance, officers got a search warrant and entered the home at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3.

Officers arrested Feng Z. Cao, 52, from Redwood City, for pandering and "keeping or residing in a house of ill fame." They also arrested Danny Huang, 60, from Burlingame, and Mi S. Back, from Los Angeles, for prostitution and "keeping or residing in a house of ill fame."

Palo Alto police worked with Santa Clara County's "Specialized Enforcement Team" in the investigation and arrests. -- Tyler Hanley
Four Seasons debut is set back

Construction delays have pushed back the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto from summer to the fall, meaning that locals will have to wait that much longer for a chance at one of the expected 300 hospitality jobs.

The 200-room luxury hotel will likely open in September or October, according to Pamela Hild, marketing director. The hotel bills itself as "Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto."

"It can be a moving target. You just never know," Hild said of the construction of the 10-story building along Highway 101 at University Avenue.

The hotel chain cannot afford to wait too long, however. According to a deal made with the city of East Palo Alto in 2003, it will forfeit funding to the city if not opened by Nov. 1. That could be a minor setback, though, since East Palo Alto also promised to give the hotel a multi-million-dollar subsidy for its first 42 months to secure its decision to build in the city.

The hotel's accommodations include meeting rooms, an Italian restaurant, a spa with seven treatment rooms, a rooftop lap pool, and a three-bedroom, 2,680-square-foot "presidential suite" with its own dining room and pantry. --Jocelyn Dong

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