Portola Valley: Night patrols yield suspect in thefts Portola Valley: Night patrols yield suspect in thefts (May 11, 2005)

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

The increase in sheriff's night patrols in Portola Valley may have provided a clue last week as deputies continue their efforts to solve a string of nighttime auto thefts in Portola Valley in April.

On Sunday, May 2, at about 11 p.m., a deputy in a squad car on patrol at Alpine Road near the intersection with Interstate 280 stopped a man driving into Portola Valley, who then fled west on Alpine Road at his first chance, crashed his car and escaped on foot near Westridge Drive, said Lt. Ken Jones of the Sheriff's Office.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is searching for Coit Frandsen, 32, on charges that include vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.

Dogs were brought in to help in the search after the crash, but the suspect got away. "It's really hard to search out there, as far as setting up a perimeter," said Lt. Jones. "It's frustrating."

The suspect had stolen the car, given a false name and address to the deputy, and may have been drunk, said Lt. Jones. He also left an ID card on the seat of the car and a collection of house keys.

"A stolen car and his going into Portola Valley at 11 o'clock at night? This guy was up to no good," said Lt. Jones.

Mr. Frandsen had been released from the Santa Clara County jail a few days earlier after having been arrested for having stolen property in his possession, said Lt. Jones.

Detectives from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office are continuing their investigation, but catching the thief or thieves will involve some luck, said Lt. Jones.

"We're going to be at the right place at the right time (or) somebody is going to call in and we're going to catch him," he said.

According to the description provided by the Sheriff's Office, Mr. Frandsen is a white male about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds, with brown eyes and very short brown hair. He has a tattoo of a marijuana leaf on his right ankle.
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Lt. Ken Jones of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is scheduled to brief the Portola Valley Town Council on progress in investigating the rash of thefts from unlocked vehicles and garages. The council meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. -- a half hour earlier than usual -- on Wednesday, May 11, at the Historic Schoolhouse at 765 Portola Road.

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