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.

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.