Online Chat, Surveillance Video Leads To Break-In Arrest

SAN MATEO, CA – The San Mateo Police Department this week credited an online community conversation, home-surveillance video and an alert resident for the arrest of a suspect in area vehicular burglaries.

Officers were called Monday after a community member reviewed and shared with the agency a Nextdoor conversation between neighbors, which included home-security footage of an auto burglary and suspect.

From the video, police recognized the suspect, identified as transient and probationer Nelson Diaz, 29.

"With the information at hand, our officers actively looked for Diaz and at about 9:25 p.m. located him on the 800 block of North Delaware Street," the department said.

Diaz allegedly was in possession of stolen property from two car break-ins, along with "additional property that was collected for observation" and was arrested for suspicion of possession of stolen property and drugs, theft and probation violation and booked into San Mateo County Jail.

"We wanted to thank our community for sharing information with each other," the department said. "We were able to arrest this auto burglar and link him other crimes thanks to the Nextdoor conversation between neighbors and the community member that shared it. This is a great example of our community and police teamwork to fight back against crime!"

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