Layers of electronics and smart cops recently led to a speedy arrest.
Lafayette police went to check on an alarm in Happy Valley. As officers were dispatched, the homeowner called from the East Coast where he was on vacation, to let police know the system was activated and was equipped to take pictures from the interior of the home. He was later able to email police an image of a masked subject inside the house. Cops arrived and found the home was burgled; the subject gained entrance by shattering a rear glass door.
A neighborhood camera system was in place that captured images of cars and license plate numbers, along with a community camera that also snagged a picture of the get-away car.
In short order, the suspect was arrested getting into the identified car at his home in Walnut Creek. Police found property from the burglary, clothing worn by the suspect during the burglary and a variety of narcotics.
"In this case, everything seemed to work in textbook fashion," said Police Chief Eric Christensen. He explained that the homeowner alerted a neighbor about being out of town and took the time to hide valuable items of jewelry, leaving other items in the jewelry box, just in case something happened.
C. Tyson
Lafayette police went to check on an alarm in Happy Valley. As officers were dispatched, the homeowner called from the East Coast where he was on vacation, to let police know the system was activated and was equipped to take pictures from the interior of the home. He was later able to email police an image of a masked subject inside the house. Cops arrived and found the home was burgled; the subject gained entrance by shattering a rear glass door.
A neighborhood camera system was in place that captured images of cars and license plate numbers, along with a community camera that also snagged a picture of the get-away car.
In short order, the suspect was arrested getting into the identified car at his home in Walnut Creek. Police found property from the burglary, clothing worn by the suspect during the burglary and a variety of narcotics.
"In this case, everything seemed to work in textbook fashion," said Police Chief Eric Christensen. He explained that the homeowner alerted a neighbor about being out of town and took the time to hide valuable items of jewelry, leaving other items in the jewelry box, just in case something happened.
C. Tyson
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA