Burglar Found Hiding In Home Bathroom In South Bay: Police

PALO ALTO, CA — A man was arrested early Sunday after entering a Palo Alto home and hiding in a bathroom while the homeowner investigated suspicious activity outside, police said.

Officers said they responded around 2:36 a.m. to the 3500 block of Julie Court after a report of a burglary in progress.

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Police said security cameras captured the suspect on the property before he returned about 45 minutes later and rang the doorbell. As the homeowner went outside and discovered a family vehicle had been rummaged through, the suspect entered the home through the front door.

A woman inside the residence called 911 after hearing someone in the house. Officers arrived within minutes, forced open a locked bathroom door and arrested the suspect.

Oscar Dario Banegas, 46, of San Jose, was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of residential burglary, a parole violation, methamphetamine possession, resisting arrest and providing false information to police after investigators said he gave officers a fake name, police said.

Nothing was reported stolen, and no one was injured, police said.