A house cleaner stopped a home burglary in Palo Alto Monday afternoon after she said she saw a stranger ransacking through the house.
Palo Alto Police said the house cleaner called the resident to inform him of a suspcious person inside his house on the 1800 block of Channing Avenue. The resident came home shortly after and found a burglar trying to steal his car from his driveway.
As the suspect tried to start the vehicle, the resident then called police, who arrived shortly after at around 2 p.m. The suspect was arrested on several charges, including residential burglary and attempted vehicle theft, according to police.
Police also said they believed the suspect, 20-year-old Axel Morales of Palo Alto, burglarized the same home two days before Monday's burglary. Morales allegedly took jewelry and keys from the home, but the resident was unaware of the theft.
The suspect enterted the home after finding a spare key outside, according to police. The Palo Alto Police said they encourage residents to consider leaving spare keys with neighbors they trust.
