Crime & Safety

70-Year-Old Suspected Church Burglar In Possession of 2 Guitars (One Very Pricey!)

Are they yours? Palo Alto police suspect they are stolen and are seeking the rightful owners.

A 70-year-old San Francisco woman is a suspect in a pair of burglaries at a church in Palo Alto and the theft of property from a school in Los Altos, Palo Alto police said today.

Ethel Jean Hayes was arrested Sunday and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of two counts of burglarizing the Trinity Lutheran Church in Palo Alto and possessing property stolen from the Montecito Preschool in Los Altos, police said.

This afternoon, the Palo Alto Police Department issued this update:

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ā€œThrough follow-up investigation, detectives found that the suspect arrested for two recent church burglaries was in possession of two guitars, which are believed to have been stolen from an unknown location.

ā€œOne of the instruments is an uncommon, Hill brand, guitar valued at more than $5,000.

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ā€œThe other is a more common, Kay brand, guitar.

ā€œDetectives are seeking the public’s help in reuniting the guitars with their rightful owners. A photograph of each guitar is attached.ā€

To read the full story on this case follow this link: 70-Year-Old Woman Arrested, Accused Of Burglaries At Palo Alto Church, Stolen Papers From Los Altos School.

--BCN contributed to this report.

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