Police Capture Two Female Burglary Suspects, Recover Stolen Loot

Two young women were arrested on suspicion of burglary-related offenses and two pillowcases full of stolen property recovered after a traffic stop, according to a Piedmont Police Department spokesman.

A third suspect — a man — fled on foot and escaped police near the Oakland Rose Garden, Detective George Phifer said.

The incident began shortly before 11 p.m on Nov. 13 when a Piedmont police officer flagged down the women's vehicle for failure to stop at a traffic signal near the corner of Grand and Sunnyslope avenues, Phifer said.

When the vehicle pulled over, a man wearing a baseball cap jumped out and ran along Sunnyslope, then through the Rose Garden, and ultimately eluded police.

Meanwhile, the two women — the driver and a front-seat passenger — remained in the vehicle and consented to a search, Phifer said. The search turned up two pillowcases containig jewelry, a Mac computer and other items, he said.

One of the items had the name of a Piedmont resident who lives in the first block of Bonita Avenue, Phifer said. When police went to that address, they discovered that a burglary had apparently just taken place. Investigators believe all the items in the pillowcases came from that home, Phifer said.

One of the women arrested had a key to the Bonita Avenue home in her possession, Phifer said. It's unknown how she obtained the key, he said.

Sandra Martinez, 18, of Oakland, the driver of the vehicle, was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property, while the passenger, Susana Cardenas, 19, of Oakland was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property, Phifer said. The man who fled has not yet been identified.

Both women were booked into the Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility in Oakland following their arrests.

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