Early-morning cyclist charged with Atherton-area thefts Early-morning cyclist charged with Atherton-area thefts (January 12, 2005)

Boldness can have its price. Acting on a tip from an Atherton resident who said she saw a man on a bicycle counting money in her driveway, police -- a short time later -- stopped and arrested a man matching the resident's description.

David Louis Carmony, 44, of Palo Alto was arrested on Watkins Avenue shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday, January 4, said Atherton Police Chief Bob Brennan. The bicycle Mr. Carmony was riding had had its serial number removed, police said, adding that he was carrying property later determined to be missing from vehicles located in Atherton west of El Camino Real.

After the arrest, Atherton police received about a dozen calls from residents complaining of thefts from vehicles, all of which were reported to be unlocked. The resident who made the initial call said money was missing from her car.

The charges against Mr. Carmony include possession of stolen property and possession of property with an altered serial number.

Police are advising residents to lock their vehicles at night. For more information, call Sgt. Chris Madsen at 752-0512.

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