Los Altos Police Blotter for April 29 through May 5: Burglaries, Grand Theft and DUIs

Two burglaries, two incidents of grand theft, two driving-under-the-influence citation arrests, one case of vandalism, a minor drug violation and five non-injury accidents topped the list of incidents reported by Los Altos police in the period from April 29 to May 5.

The two cases of grand theft occurred within hours of each other last Saturday; one on Paso Robles Avene at 1:05 p.m. when a rota-tiller valued at $9,000 was taken from a job site. The second incident involved the theft of a pair of earrings valued at $1,500 taken from a car parked in a lot behind a downtown business on Main Street at 3:14 p.m., Korges said.

Two residential burlaries were reported; one on Eva Avenue at 5:14 p.m. Monday, and the other, the next afternoon at 2:09 p.m. at a home on South El Monte Avenue.

The two citation arrests for driving under the influence occurred Friday, shortly after Cinco de Mayo ended. The first incident occurred at 12:21 a.m. at the  intersection of San Antonio Road and California Street. Korges identified the driver as Raymond Schmidike, 21 of University Place. 

The second happened  two hours later during a traffic stop on El Camino Real and Rengstorff Avenue. Korges identified that driver as Mariano Velayo, 23, of Redwood City.

Los Altos Police Sgt. John Korges said suspects entered the South El Monte Avenue home by breaking a kitchen window, taking miscellaneous items of personal jewelry. No value was given. Korges said suspects entered the Eva Avenue home through an unlocked front door, taking the resident's purse.

Police issued a citation arrest for a minor drug violation during a traffic stop on El Camino Real and S. El Monte Avenue April 29 shortly before midnight. Brandon Herod, 19, of Sunnyvale was charged with two misdemeanors—possession of marijuana and underage possession of alcohol, Korges said.

Authorities also received a report of a vehicle being vandalized at 11:13 a.m. Monday on Oak Avenue, when an emblem was taken from a parked Mercedes, according to Korges.

Five traffic accidents occured during the period, including two Wednesday and one Thursday at the same intersection, El Camino Real and Los Altos Avenue.  Two incidents occurred shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday; the third shortly after noon Wednesday. 

A third non-injury accident was also reported Wednesday on Fowler Avenue at 4:20 p.m. The fifth incident occurred Tuesday afternoon on Valencia Drive. at 4:26 p.m.

A public disturbance was reported Tuesday outside the post office at 7 p.m. Police arrived and were able to get the responsible party to leave the scene. Another disturbance occurred Thursday on El Camino Real, but officers were able to bring things under control.

There were at least four complaints of gas leaf blower violations; last Saturday on Alford Avenue at 11:50 a.m.; Monday on Deodara Drive at 9:25 a.m., and two on Tuesday on Fourth and State streets at 8:47 a.m., and a few hours later on Redwood Drive.

One incident of harassing phone calls was reported May 3 from a residence on Raymundo Avenue where an occupant reported receiving a number of offensive phone calls and texts.  A second incident of telephone harassment was reported April 29 on Sequoia Way by a resident there.

Three incidents involving loose animals were reported. The first occurred Saturday at 5:31 p.m. on Orange Avenue when a loose dog was returned to its owner. A loose dog was returned to its owner Tuesday morning about 8 a.m. on University Avenue; a few hours another stray dog was reunited with its owner. 

Two drunk-in-public arrests were made during the period; one last Saturday at 2:52 p.m. at the intersection of El Camino Real and Los Altos Avenue and the other Thursday at 9:35 p.m on El Camino Real and Sherwood Avenue.

The locations and dates of some additional incidents are noted on the map that accompanies this report.