Redwood City Police Arrest Man Connected With 2 School Burglaries

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Police arrested a suspect on Saturday in connection with the burglaries of two local schools last week, the Redwood Police Department said.

Video surveillance from two school campuses helped police identify 41-year-old Oscar Banegas. He was arrested early Saturday morning at Sequoia Station.

The first burglary unfolded at St. Michael Preschool on May 5, where a suspect climbed through a second-story window and stole $500 from a desk drawer in an office, police said. The suspect was discovered in another room of the school by a school employee, who told him to leave. After the suspect left, the school employee reportedly noticed the money was missing from an office.

Shortly after, on May 7, officers were called to Redeemer Lutheran School to respond to a burglary that had occurred just a few days before. Police said one of the classrooms had been rummaged through. An Ipad charger was also missing from a classroom desk drawer.

Video surveillance from both campuses showed Banegas roaming the schools.

When police found Banegas at Sequoia Station on Saturday, he was in possession of an Ipad charger.

He was booked into the San Mateo County jail on two counts of commercial burglary, committing a felony while out on bail and on a parole hold.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Redwood City Police Detective Nick Perna at 650-780-7672 or the department's tip line at 650-780-7110.