Chase, capture of burglary suspect Chase, capture of burglary suspect (April 27, 2005)

Quick action by a homeowner may have made the difference in the capture of a burglar seen leaving her Los Trancos Woods home last week.

Following a call by the homeowner to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office shortly after noon Wednesday, April 20, a coordinated effort among sheriff's deputies and police officers from Redwood City, Menlo Park and East Palo Alto resulted in the chase, capture and arrest of Homer Hawkins, 49, of East Palo Alto.

Sheriff's detectives found burglary tools in Mr. Hawkins' car along with quantities of jewelry and cash, and passports belonging to other possible victims, said Capt. Don O'Keefe of the Sheriff's Office.

Mr. Hawkins is being held in the county jail without bail on charges of burglary and evading police.
Car chase

A woman living on Old Spanish Trail in Los Trancos Woods told sheriff's deputies she came home to find a strange Mercedes Benz parked in her driveway and an unknown man leaving her house and carrying a familiar looking pillowcase, said Capt. O'Keefe.

The resident questioned the man, said Capt. O'Keefe, but the man ignored the questions and drove away, at which point the resident called the Sheriff's Office.

A sheriff's deputy on motorcycle patrol at the intersection of Alpine and Los Trancos roads recognized the suspect's car and attempted to stop him, but he sped away eastbound on Alpine Road toward Interstate 280, said Capt. O'Keefe.

Sheriff's deputies pursued the suspect north on I-280 and east on Woodside Road into Redwood City. He was eventually captured leaving his car at his home in East Palo Alto, said Capt. O'Keefe.

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