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A 24-year-old San Jose woman was arrested Tuesday morning, March 17, after allegedly stealing mail and credit cards from a Menlo Park apartment complex then fleeing from police.
Prosecutors say Michelle Hong and another suspect broke into the mailroom of the upscale Springline apartment complex, which connects to an underground parking garage. Security staff spotted the pair rifling through the room and called 911.
When a Menlo Park police officer arrived, both suspects were loading items into a car. They fled when the officer asked them to turn off the engine. As they drove away, with Hong in the passenger seat, the car broke through a parking lot arm.
Palo Alto police later discovered the suspects’ abandoned car near El Camino Real and Quarry Road. Inside, officers found several opened pieces of mail, credit cards and identification cards, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
Shortly afterward, an officer spotted a woman nearby who matched Hong’s description. She was detained until Menlo Park police confirmed her identity as the passenger in the getaway vehicle and placed her under arrest. The driver has not yet been found.
Investigators are still determining how the pair gained access to the mailroom, but police recovered a shaved key and a drill bit, which are commonly used to bypass locks, Wagstaffe said.
“The safety of our residents remains our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining a secure environment while working in partnership with local law enforcement,” a spokesperson for Springline wrote in a statement.
Hong now faces two felony charges for first-degree burglary and identity theft, as well as two misdemeanors for possessing burglary tools and resisting arrest. On March 18, Hong was released without bail but has to check in with court staff while she awaits trial.
Court and police records show Hong has an outstanding arrest warrant from San Jose connected to identity theft and two drug-related charges. San Jose police did not respond to requests for comment, and Wagstaffe said he was unaware of details surrounding that case.
Hong’s next hearing in the Springline theft is on May 6 at the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City.
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