A Union City man arrested on suspicion of stealing a package from a Palo Alto home on New Year’s Day has now been linked to thefts in San Jose, Palo Alto police announced Sunday.
The probe began after an alert Palo Alto resident on the 2600 block of Marshall Drive reported seeing a man — later identified as 25-year-old Andrew Philip Stafford — steal a package from a neighbor’s porch around noon on Jan. 1.
Officers responded to the area and located a vehicle matching the caller’s description, a white 1972 Chevrolet pick-up, and found stolen property valued at about $120 in Stafford’s possession.
Detectives also found a personal check in Stafford’s truck that they determined was stolen from a mailbox in San Jose on Dec. 28, according to Palo Alto police.
A follow-up investigation later led detectives to a rental storage unit in Campbell where they located two boxes believed to be stolen off of porches in San Jose.
Detectives are trying to contact the owners of the property to determine if the packages were stolen or if Stafford has permission to be in possession of the items, Palo Alto police officer Marco Estrada said in a prepared statement.
Stafford has been booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail and faces various felony and misdemeanor charges including theft, weapons possession and narcotics possession with intent to sell, according to police.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Palo Alto police at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
Patch reporter Bea Karnes contributed to this report.
------
Like Union City Patch on Facebook | Follow Union City Patch on Twitter | Get Free Union City Patch Newsletters | Blog on Union City Patch
