Palo Alto woman scares off burglar trying to enter her locked bedroom

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Palo Alto police say a woman who was home alone late Tuesday night scared off a burglar who attempted to enter her locked bedroom.

Around 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, police dispatch received a call from a resident in the 1300 block of Hopkins Avenue, near Rinconada Park, who heard an unknown person enter her home, police said.

The resident stayed on the phone with dispatch as she heard the suspect from the hallway try to turn the locked doorknob of her bedroom door, according to police.

The woman yelled, prompting the suspect to flee, police said.

Officers responded to the neighborhood to search for the suspect and received assistance from a canine unit from East Palo Alto police, but were unable to find the suspect, police said.

Investigators determined the suspect entered the residence through an open window and rummaged through property, according to police.

It did not appear that anything was taken from the home, police said.

Detectives are looking into the possibility that Tuesday night's burglary is connected with two other overnight burglaries at occupied homes in March and last July, according to police.

Officers are increasing patrols in the neighborhood in light of Tuesday night's burglary, police said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Palo Alto police at (650) 329-2413.