Suspect believed to be part of a larger burglary ring
Suspect believed to be part of a larger burglary ring
n By Marilyn Dubil Staff Writer
An alleged member of a burglary ring was arrested by Morgan Hill Police officers early Monday morning while trying to steal a safe from a local business.
Walter R. Slone, Jr., 30, of San Jose was arrested without incident and taken to Santa Clara County Jail on burglary charges.
“Pursuant to further investigation, detectives believe Mr. Slone was involved in a burglary ring working out of Oakland that has stolen safes from businesses in several cities recently, including San Mateo, San Jose and Gilroy,” MHPD Cmdr. Joe Sampson said.
Officers responded to the Check-N-Cash business in the Morgan Hill shopping center at Monterey Road and Dunne Avenue at approximately 3:40am after a report that a burglar alarm was activated.
When he arrived at the business, Cpl. Michael Brookman saw that the front door of the business was shattered. He also noticed Slone, inside the business, attempting to remove one of two safes.
As Slone came out of the Check-N-Cash, he spotted Brookman and began to run, leaving the shopping center parking lot for W. Dunne Ave. Brookman ran after Slone, catching him in the area of W. Dunne Ave. and Del Monte Ave. with the help of Officer Mindy Zen.
MHPD detectives responded to continue the investigation. In interviewing Slone, detectives learned he was not alone during the burglary attempt.
“He indicated to us his accomplice was a male, African-American in all black clothing,” Sampson said. “An officer was in the area later in the morning and saw an individual that matched that description. He saw the officer and ran.”
Sampson said officers set up a perimeter in the area at approximately 7:30am to try to contain the suspect, but were not able to apprehend him. Officers searched for more than an hour before ending the perimeter search.
Slone also will likely be charged with evading a police officer, a misdemeanor.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
