East Palo Alto Boys, 14, Caught Burglarizing Home: Police

MENLO PARK, CA — Two 14-year-old East Palo Alto boys were caught red-handed burglarizing a Menlo Park home this week and were arrested on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy, the Menlo Park Police Department said. Officials credit an alert neighbor with helping them make the bust.

It happened around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday at a home in the area of Woodland Avenue and Oak Court, police said.

"The resident noticed that one subject was knocking on the front door of the home and the second subject appeared to be acting as a look-out," police said in a news release.

Police headed to the home, where they found the door had been forced open — and they could hear "banging noises" coming from inside, officials said.

"Officers determined that a residential burglary was in-progress," police said. "As officers were setting a perimeter around the home, a suspect exited the front door where he was taken into custody without incident."

Meanwhile, a second suspect tried to run out the back door but an officer stopped him, police said.

"Both suspects were found to be in possession of items stolen from the home, and all of the property taken from the home was recovered," police said.

The duo were taken to the Hillcrest Juvenile Hall.

— Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone