🌱 Patch AM: How a giant rat turned a San Mateo burglary call into slapstick

Good morning San Mateo! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a giant rat turned a San Mateo burglary call into slapstick
• What do we really know about July's fatal Tesla crash in San Mateo?

Also on today's calendar: Peninsula and South Bay Green@Home Tour 2026 and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What are the two favorite words for a shark to hear? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: A steady afternoon breeze, with a high of 70 and low of 56 degrees.
• Monday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, temps: high: 75, low: 54.
• Tuesday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 81 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 'You Dirty Rat': San Mateo Police Gets A Sticky Surprise While Responding To Burglary Call (patch.com) — San Mateo police responding to a late-night business alarm this week instead found themselves battling a very large rat, not a burglar. One officer ended up stuck on multiple glue traps while his partner staged a good-humored "rescue," and the rodent ultimately escaped. Police shared the story and photo to reassure residents there was no real threat, just some comic relief.
   

• Tesla's record month: 4 fatal Autopilot and Full Self-Driving crashes (moomoo.com) — A July Tesla crash in San Mateo that killed the driver is one of four fatal incidents nationwide where Tesla's own data shows Autopilot or Full Self-Driving was active, yet that fact never reached the public. Investigators matched federal crash filings to local reports and found Tesla heavily redacts key details, potentially understating deaths and obscuring how its driver-assist systems behave. The findings raise fresh safety and transparency questions for local Tesla owners.
   

📸 Around San Mateo

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🗓 Upcoming Events in San Mateo

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 10
• Peninsula and South Bay Green@Home Tour 2026 →
  San Mateo & Santa Clara Counties,
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday September 27
• Online Auction to Support Local Sustainability →
  bit.ly/SSMC-Auction-Items
  9:00 am
Monday September 28
• 3D Printing Appointments @ Hillsdale Branch →
  Hillsdale Library- Programming Space, San Mateo
  3:30 pm
• Everyday English (level 2) →
  Main Library, Laurel Room, San Mateo
  5:00 pm
• parent support group →
  allcove San Mateo, 2600 S El Camino Real, San Mateo
  5:45 pm
• parent support group →
  allcove San Mateo, 2600 S El Camino Real, San Mateo
  5:45 pm
Tuesday September 29
• Genealogy Reference Assistance →
  Main Library, 2nd floor, San Mateo
  10:00 am
• grupo de apoyo para padres →
  allcove San Mateo, 2600 S El Camino Real, San Mateo
  5:45 pm
• grupo de apoyo para padres →
  allcove San Mateo, 2600 S El Camino Real, San Mateo
  5:45 pm
Wednesday September 30
• parent networking night →
  allcove San Mateo, 2600 S El Camino Real, San Mateo
  6:00 pm
Friday October 2
• First Friday Nights at CuriOdyssey →
  CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Dr, San Mateo
  5:00 pm
Saturday October 3
• NAMIWalks 2026 →
  Coyote Point Recreation Area, 1701 Coyote Point Dr, San Mateo
  9:00 am

📣 San Mateo Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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• DEA Security Systems — (650) 508-0199
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• Got Snakes? Bay Area Snake Removal — (925) 997-3730
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Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Anyone who is looking for a loving 3.
  5 year old cat that gets along with other cats - go visit Tiger at Pet Smart in San Carlos! A glowing review from staff. (Nextdoor North Central)
• I need to rehome a cat.
  Penny is about 7-8 years old and is a sweetheart. I have 2 cats (different litters and ages) and they are not getting along. Both female. Please DM… (Nextdoor Sunnybrae)

• San Mateo Union High School District posted a job opening for Burlingame Boys Basketball JV Head Coach in San Mateo. Apply here.
• Whole Foods posted a job opening for Customer Service Supervisor - Full Time in San Mateo. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near San Mateo here.

🗞 Nearby News

Foster City

• 1171 Compass Ln #307, Foster City, CA 94404 (redfin.com)
• 880 Meridian Bay Lane #114, Foster City, CA 94404 Property for sale (corcoran.com)
• Novel netrin-1–Unc5b–Klf4 axis balances AT2 survival in experimental bronchopulmonary dysplasia (nih.gov)

Hillsborough

• Festival Napa Valley Presents Andrea Bocelli with Angels of the Arts Award (operawire.com)
• Silicon Valley 'sex assault list' with 'over 100 ' names circulated, warning female tech workers of predators to avoid (nypost.com)

Ok San Mateo! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "MAN OVERBOARD!" (Thank you M J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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