Palo Alto police are investigating an overnight burglary that occurred last week at a home while the resident slept.

Officers responded to a call at about 8:59 a.m. on Sept. 21 regarding a burglary that occurred in the 700 block of University Avenue. The occupant, a man in his 40s, had gone to bed around midnight. When he awoke at around 8 a.m. he found that several pieces of his property were missing, including a laptop computer, AirPods, a non-recording interior surveillance camera, and a car key.

Most of the items had been on a desk next to a sliding glass door and would have been visible from a common area outside the residence, police said. The resident thought he might not have locked the sliding glass door before going to bed, he told police.

Officers responded to another call at about 5:22 p.m regarding property that a resident found in the side yard of their home in the 700 block of Hamilton Avenue. The location is about a block south of the burglary. The resident found the missing laptop, AirPods and a surveillance camera wrapped in a cloth. Two flashlights and burglary tools were also found nearby. Officers are now processing those items for evidence, police said. The car key remains missing.

Local shelter sees huge spike in abandoned huskies

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA is experiencing a large spike in the number of husky and husky-mix dogs at their shelter.

The shelter had 15 huskies and husky-mix dogs available for adoption this week. The animals appear to be the latest in a long history of trendy animals made popular by pop culture, Buffy Martin Tarbox, communications manager, said.

The husky trend might be caused by "Game of Thrones," the popular book and television series, which has animal characters that are dire wolves.

"The dire wolves have a wolf-like and even husky appearance. It is possible that fans of the saga were looking for their own replica dire wolf and found the husky. But unfortunately, they may not have prepared for this special and energetic breed," Martin Tarbox said.

The husky and husky mixes represent 50% of the shelter's current total dogs available for adoption, she noted.

"Huskies and husky mixes are being surrendered to our shelter and found as strays in record-breaking numbers. These dogs require a lot of activity, both physical and mental. They can be quite independent and escape artists. Because we fully understand the needs of this breed, we are placing our adoptable huskies and husky mixes into homes that are experienced with this type of dog," she said.

Huskies and husky mixes are not only beautiful dogs, but they make excellent family pets, Martin Tarbox said. They are known for their loyalty and thrive on the company of humans.

Staff and volunteers recently organized a "husky hike" along the Bay Trail in San Mateo with many of the adoptable dogs. Each husky and husky mix available is spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. The adoption fees for the dogs are $160 and include a free training package, toy, leash, collar and harness.

For more information about the dogs, go to phs-spca.org or call 650-340-7022. The shelter is located at 1450 Rollins Road in Burlingame.

Newsom signs bills to reduce catalytic converter thefts

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office on Sunday announced Newsom has signed two bills aimed at cracking down on catalytic converter theft.

AB 1740 by Assembly member Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) will require catalytic converter recyclers to include additional information in the written record, including the year, make and model of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed, and a copy of the title of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed.

The law also would prohibit recyclers from buying catalytic converters from someone other than a commercial enterprise or the vehicle's owner.

SB 1087 by Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) would prohibit people from buying a used catalytic converter from anybody other than certain specified sellers, including an automobile dismantler, an automotive repair dealer, or someone with documentation proving they're the lawful owner of the catalytic converter.