Atherton: Woman comes home to find stranger in spa room; suspect nabbed

A 22-year-old Hayward resident was arrested on March 12 in connection with a break-in and theft at a James Avenue home in Atherton after the homeowner reported that when she returned home that morning, she found a stranger in her spa and sauna room.

Police had responded to the area, near Heather Drive, at around 10:30 a.m. after receiving a call from a resident who had returned home with two real estate agents to find an unfamiliar man sitting inside the spa and sauna room, according to a police department bulletin.

The resident told police that she immediately closed the door to the sauna room, left the house and called 911.

The resident was able to provide a description, and police responding to the area found the suspect walking on James Avenue toward Middlefield Road, according to the bulletin.

The man was reportedly found to be in possession of keys, a garage door opener and a cellphone, all of which police say belonged to residents of the home.

The suspect was booked into the San Mateo County jail.

In another incident, the culprit who broke into a home on Belbrook Way, near Walsh Road, over the weekend has yet to be caught.

Police said the burglary occurred between 8:30 a.m. on March 13 and 3 p.m. on March 15. The unknown thief made off with jewelry and purses, the homeowner told police.

The burglar entered through an unlocked rear patio door, police reported, adding that although the house had an alarm, it hadn't been set.