SAN MATEO — A man was arrested early Saturday after an alleged crime spree in which he stole or commandeered two vehicles, burglarized an occupied house and rifled through more vehicles before he was caught, police said.
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David Estrada, a 21-year-old San Mateo resident, first attracted police attention around 2:20 a.m. when he reportedly crashed a Nissan Altima in the 200 block of West 40th Street and ran away, according to San Mateo police.
Less than half an hour later, police got a call from a resident a quarter mile west on 41st Avenue who reported they found a man in their home who was searching a drawer and fled after being detected, police said. The intruder also reportedly got into and rummaged through the resident’s car.
With an investigation underway, police officers found Estrada inside a parked car in the 3900 block of Fernwood Street, about a mile west of the burglarized home. After confirming that nearby residents who owned the car did not know Estrada, officers arrested him, police said.
Estrada was identified by witnesses to the earlier hit-and-run crash and the homeowner on 41st Avenue, police said, adding that officers recovered from him a set of brass knuckles that were attached to a window punch and a switchblade.
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Further investigation determined the Nissan involved in the initial crash had been stolen but that theft had not yet been reported and a search of the surrounding neighborhood discovered a vehicle parked partially in the street and partially in a driveway. Police said a review of surveillance video from the site showed Estrada entering that vehicle and briefly driving it before leaving it behind.
Jail records show that Estrada was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on suspicion of three felony vehicle theft counts, and one felony count each of burglary, receiving stolen property, and having an illegal weapon, along with three misdemeanor counts covering theft, weapons and burglary offenses.
While police did not detail exactly how Estrada allegedly entered the cars and home, they stated in a Saturday news release that the case was “an important reminder to lock your vehicles and homes, even when you are home or only stepping away for a short period of time.”
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