During the past month, there has been an increase in daytime residential burglaries in the Willow’s area of the City of Menlo Park. Due to this rash of burglaries, Menlo Park Police patrol units have been providing extra patrols in the area. Along with the marked police officer patrols, the Menlo Park Police NET (Narcotics Enforcement Team) and Detective units have conducted several undercover surveillance operations in the vicinity of the burglaries.
On December 19, 2016 at about 4:50 p.m. NET Detective personnel observed a suspicious vehicle in the area affected by the recent burglaries. The vehicle was stopped for a vehicle code violation on O’Keefe Street and Menalto Ave. The driver of the vehicle was found to have a suspended/revoked driver’s license. Detectives also located two juvenile passengers in the vehicle.
During the detention, it was determined that the two juvenile passengers resembled residential burglary suspects from the area, who had been captured by a victim’s home security video system. The two juveniles and driver of the vehicle were arrested and transported to the police station for interviews.
Subsequent investigation and evidence uncovered by detectives and patrol officers established probable cause to arrest the two juvenile suspects on two counts of residential burglary (which had been committed in the area), along with conspiracy.
The arrested suspects are as follows:
Kevin Plazola-Navarro, 19 year old Hispanic male, resident of East Palo Alto was arrested, cited and released for driving on a suspended license.
16 year old male juvenile, resident of East Palo Alto was arrested on two counts of residential burglary, conspiracy to commit a felony, and providing a false name. The suspect was also on probation for residential burglary and had a “no bail” warrant for probation violation and was booked into Hillcrest Juvenile Detention Facility.
16 year old male juvenile, resident of East Palo Alto was arrested on two counts of residential burglary, conspiracy to commit a felony and was booked into Hillcrest Juvenile Detention Facility.
Investigation is continuing on this case and has led to the juvenile suspects being connected to several more residential burglaries in the Willow’s neighborhood.
The police department would urge all residents to continue to be vigilant and report all suspicious persons or vehicles immediately to the police department. It should be noted that the video surveillance provided by a victim-resident provided excellent evidence in this case allowing the suspects to be identified, and the police department wishes to thank those residents for their invaluable assistance in this case.
