A suspicious San Mateo homeowner lied to police over the phone about being home, allowing the burglar to get away, according to California police.
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California police said a San Mateo homeowner told officers he was at home, leading to the burglar’s escape.
Police responded to a security alarm at 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, and spotty motion inside the home, according to a San Mateo news release.
They called the homeowner, who said they were home, police said, and officers left the scene. But it turned out that the house was robbed.
By the time police returned, the robber had fled, the release said. The homeowner told officers they lied about being home because they didn’t believe the call really came from the police.
“These precious minutes allowed the house to be robbed and the thief to get away,” the police wrote.
San Mateo police encourage anyone who doubts the authenticity of a call to ask for the officer’s name and badge number.
Or call the police non-emergency line back at 650-522-7700 to double check with dispatchers, the release said.
San Mateo is a city of 760,000 people located about 20 miles south of San Francisco.
