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This information is based on reports from the Menlo Park and Atherton police departments and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. Under the law, people charged with offenses are considered innocent unless convicted. Police received the reports on the dates shown.
WOODSIDE
Fraud: A resident of Ward Way transferred money to a caller who, posing as her grandson, said he had been in a car accident in Mexico and needed the money to pay for the damages. After she sent the money, she contacted her grandson and learned that he was not in Mexico. Estimated loss: $3,000. Nov. 18.
Thefts:
■ A visitor to Wunderlich Park at 4040 Woodside Road left her vehicle unlocked in the parking lot. She returned after 45 minutes to find that her wallet had been stolen from her purse, which was sitting on the front passenger seat. A laptop computer on the back seat had not been touched. Estimated loss: $225. Nov. 25.
■ Someone pried open several mailboxes at the corner of Woodside and Hobart Heights roads. One resident reported missing mail. No estimate on losses. Nov. 18.
ATHERTON
Theft: A resident of Isabella Avenue reported the theft of a MacBook Pro laptop computer from her business. Estimated loss: $2,500. Dec. 3.
MENLO PARK
Residential burglary: A burglar entered a house on Carlton Avenue through an unlocked side window, ransacked the interior and stole cash, jewelry, watches and possibly other items not yet specified to the police. No estimate on losses. Dec. 2.
Auto burglary: Someone smashed the right front window of a vehicle parked in the 1000 block of El Camino Real and stole a duffel bag containing a ham radio. No estimate on losses. Dec. 3.
Thefts:
■ A resident of Menlo Avenue, attempting to buy a vehicle advertised on Craigslist, transferred $3,000 in prepaid debit cards to the “seller,” but the vehicle never arrived and the resident concluded he had been scammed. Dec. 3.
■ A check stolen from the mailbox of a residence on Woodland Avenue was later cashed. Estimated loss: $2,500. Dec. 4.
■ A woman walked into Gitane Freedom of Style women’s clothing shop on Santa Cruz Avenue, took a purse from a display, and left the store with the purse without having paid for it. The woman was white, in her 40s, blonde and wearing a colored top, dark baggy pants, black slip-on sandals and a Texas Longhorns ball cap. Estimated loss: $600. Dec. 1.
■ Packages were stolen from the porches of three homes — on Carlton Avenue, Laurel Avenue and Central Avenue — containing, respectively, ski clothes, computer speakers, and a hair product. Estimated losses: $500, $40 and $25. Dec. 1 and 4.
■ Bikes were stolen from the side of a home on Hedge Road and from the front porch of a home on Waverley Street. Estimated losses: $300 and $280. Dec. 1.
Fraud:
■ A debit card number belonging to a resident of Mill Street was used fraudulently at a Target store to withdraw money from the resident’s checking account. Estimated loss: $400. Dec. 1.
■ A debit card number belonging to a resident of Carlton Avenue was used fraudulently at a Safeway supermarket to buy a gift card. Estimated loss: $252. Dec. 2.
Traffic accidents:
■ The driver of a black Toyota Camry traveling west on Sand Hill Road sideswiped a motorcyclist on a Suzuki motorcycle when making a lane change near Oak Avenue. Medics took the motorcyclist to Stanford Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, including scrapes and bruises to his arms and legs. Dec. 1.
■ In a solo-vehicle accident, a white Suburu Legend traveling east on Sand Hill Road lost traction when approaching Oak Avenue, collided with the median, left the road, rolled and came to rest on the westbound side of the road. Medics took one passenger to Stanford Hospital for a complaint of neck pain, a non-life-threatening injury. Dec. 4.
Stolen vehicle: Someone stole a white 1989 Chevrolet Allegro from a storage yard on Laurel Street. Dec. 2.
By Dave Boyce
By Dave Boyce
By Dave Boyce
Joan Lane, trailblazing volunteer and Stanford’s go-to for ‘sticky problems,' dies at 97March 25, 2026 3:23 pm
It’s terrible how phone scammers seem to target seniors the most. My grandma who lives with us is a very trusting woman so I always make it a point to educate her about different phone scams. I get updates from Callercenter.com and share it to her. I also get the scammer phone numbers posted on the website and add it to my block list. I may not always be around to keep her from answering a suspicious call but as long as she knows, I know she’d be safe.