Burglar caught in the act: ‘Don’t call police’

Police are searching for a 19-year-old Hispanic man who burglarized a home on the 1200 block of Third Avenue N.W. on Nov. 12. The victim called police after he came home and found a burglar in his home. He walked in the front door and as he went toward the kitchen the burglar came out from the bedroom holding a backpack. The victim said, “What are you doing?” and the suspect replied, “I don’t have anything else. Don’t call the police.” The suspect dropped the backpack and fled through the front door. The victim called police. Inside the backpack the victim found his credit card, miscellaneous papers, medications and a portable speaker. A K9 unit was dispatched to the scene but was unable to locate the suspect. Police believe the suspect entered the home through a downstairs window. It was unlocked and police found no damage to the frame of the window. The victim found his television removed from its location and police dusted it for fingerprints, but none were recovered. The suspect was described as 5'10”, age 19, with a thin build.

Storage lockers plundered

Police responded to a burglary at an apartment complex on the 1400 block N.W. 57th Street on Nov. 16. The complainant called after he found his storage locker in the unsecure parking garage of his building had been disturbed. The padlock of his storage unit and three others had been cut. He was missing sports equipment, clothing and personal photos. The storage containers were made of “rough wood” and police were unable to collect any fingerprints. The owners of the other storage lockers had not been notified of the incident at the time of the report.

Sandwich thief: ‘I own this store. I can take whatever I want’

Police are searching for a sandwich thief after a robbery occurred at a grocery store located on the 8300 block of 15th Avenue N.W. on Nov. 17. Employees called police after a man left the store without paying for a sandwich. Security personnel attempted to stop the man, but he pushed them out of his way and said in a slew of obscenities, “I own this store. I can take whatever I want." Staff reported that the man takes a sandwich almost every day. They believe the suspect is a transient living in the neighborhood. Police searched the area but were unable to locate a man of his description eating a sandwich. Officers took security footage of the incident for evidence.