Thief Assaulted Officer During Arrest For Grand Theft: Police

SAN MATEO, CA — A 31-year-old San Mateo man was arrested late Thursday on suspicion of grand theft and resisting an officer after police said he stole a laptop and other items from a local business.

Officers with the San Mateo Police Department responded about 11:52 p.m. to the 200 block of South B Street on a report of theft, San Mateo police said.

The victim told officers an adult male had taken a laptop and additional property earlier in the evening.

After reviewing surveillance footage, officers identified the suspect as Malcolm Harper, whom they had contacted earlier that night in the surrounding neighborhood regarding a separate disturbance, police said.

Harper was later detained in the 500 block of East Third Avenue.

Officers said he was wearing clothing consistent with the suspect in the video, and a search of his property uncovered the stolen laptop and other items, which were returned to the victim.

Harper was arrested on suspicion of grand theft.

Police said that while being transported to the San Mateo County Jail, he allegedly kicked the patrol vehicle's window and door repeatedly, and ignored commands to stop, leading to an additional charge of resisting an officer.

Copyright © 2026 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.