Palo Alto police arrested three people on suspicion of stealing from three restaurants around University Avenue last Thursday, according to a department press release.
The three suspects were San Francisco residents ranging from 27 to 31 years old. Police said they were subcontractors with a company that provided overnight cleaning services to the three restaurants. Each suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail on charges related to commercial burglary and conspiracy.
Palo Alto police first received a call of a burglary on Dec. 23 around 9:30 a.m. An employee from restaurant Local Union 271 at 271 University Ave. called to report an overnight burglary. The police investigation found that several suspects entered through a rear door at around 4 a.m. and taken a safe that held $5,000 in cash.
At about 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 26, an employee from Nola Restaurant and Bar at 535 Ramona St. called police about an overnight burglary. Investigators said a group of suspects entered the restaurant through a back door and stole a safe that contained $4,000 in cash.
On Jan. 28, police received a call at around 9:30 a.m. from an employee at the restaurant Ettan at 518 Bryant St., who reported a third overnight burglary. The police said their investigation found that several suspects entered the restaurant from a rear door between 2 and 5 a.m. and taken a safe with about $7,000 in cash.
Police said the suspects were identified in a follow-up investigation. Police obtained arrest warrants for the three suspects and arrested them in San Francisco on Thursday evening.
The police department said they are continuing their investigation to see if any additional suspects may be involved or if any of the suspects can be connected to other recent burglaries in Palo Alto and surrounding cities.