Burglar Caught Hiding in Bathroom After Homeowner Checks Suspicious Activity

At about 2:36 a.m. on a quiet Sunday morning, Palo Alto police received a call about a possible burglary in progress on Julie Court. The dispatch noted that a family vehicle outside the house had been tampered with, prompting the homeowner to step outside and take a look.

Unbeknownst to the resident, a man had already slipped onto the property earlier, caught on a security camera that was keeping an eye on the front yard. About 45 minutes later, the same individual rang the doorbell, perhaps hoping to blend in with the homeowner’s own movements.

When the homeowner opened the front door, the intruder slipped right in, heading straight for the closest entry point – the bathroom. Inside, he shut the door and tried to stay hidden, hoping the police wouldn’t notice.

A quick‑thinking woman inside the house heard footsteps and called 911. Within minutes, officers were on the scene. They forced the bathroom door open, discovering the suspect cowering inside.

The man was identified as Oscar Dario Banegas, 46, of San Jose. He was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on a string of charges: residential burglary, a parole violation, possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest, and providing a false name to police.

Thankfully, nobody was hurt and, according to investigators, nothing was taken from the home. The incident serves as a reminder that even a brief glance outside can turn a routine evening into a dramatic police encounter.