Burglar Caught Hiding in Bathroom After Homeowner Checks Outside

It was just after 2:30 a.m. on Sunday when officers rolled up to the 3500 block of Julie Court in Palo Alto. The call they’d received? A burglary in progress. The responder’s first instinct was to rush in, but the scene turned out to be a little… different.

Security cameras on the property had already picked up the intruder as he paced around the yard. Then, about 45 minutes later, he rang the doorbell. The homeowner, thinking perhaps a neighbor or a delivery, stepped outside – only to find a family car with its interior ransacked. As she was checking the mess, the suspect slipped through the front door and disappeared inside.

Inside the house, a woman heard footsteps and a faint shuffling that didn’t belong to anyone she knew. Her gut told her something was off, so she dialed 911. Within minutes, police were on the scene, lights flashing, doors opening.

When the officers got to the house, they heard a faint thud coming from a closed bathroom door. They forced it open and there, crouched on a towel, was a man – clearly startled. The suspect, later identified as 46‑year‑old Oscar Dario Banegas of San Jose, didn’t put up much of a fight. He was cuffed, read his rights, and taken to the Santa Clara County Main Jail.

According to the police report, Banegas is now facing several charges: residential burglary, a parole violation, possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest, and giving a false name to officers. He reportedly tried to throw them off by providing a fake identity when questioned.

Fortunately, nothing was reported stolen and no one was hurt. The homeowner was left shaken, admittedly, but also relieved that the situation didn’t turn more dangerous. The police praised the quick thinking of the woman inside – calling 911 at the first sign of something amiss likely prevented a longer standoff.

South Bay detectives are continuing to investigate the incident, hoping to piece together how Banegas got onto the property in the first place. In the meantime, neighbors are being reminded to keep an eye on their surroundings, especially during those odd‑hour moments when the world seems a little quieter.