Theft of 50 laptops attempted

Foster City, Calif. (Map, News) - Sunday’s high-tech robbery in Foster City shared similar traits with one other local break-in and other incidents from around Northern California.

Foster City Police Capt. Matt Martell said the three men arrested on Sunday morning after allegedly breaking into Gilead Sciences may have been responsible for a similar break-in in August, and could be linked to “similar thefts in other jurisdictions.”

Just after 2 a.m. on Sunday, security guards at Gilead discovered a possible burglary in progress. Foster City officers were on scene within a minute, with help from the San Mateo, Belmont and Redwood City police departments.

Foster City Officers identified themselves as they entered the building but the suspects did not respond. A Redwood City K-9 unit found one of the suspects, and the other two fled out of the building into a nearby field before being arrested.

All three men — Oakland residents George Branch, 30, and David Bell, 29, and San Francisco resident Dominique Miles, were on parole. The 50 laptops they allegedly attempted to steal were valued at approximately $100,000.

jgoldman@examiner.com

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