Three men suspected of trying to break into a San Marino home, shutting off the power and cutting through a water pipe in the process, were being sought by police Thursday.
Officers responded at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to the 800 block of Canterbury Road, regarding a possible residential burglary in progress, according to the San Marino Police Department.
Police said a housekeeper at the residence witnessed the suspects trying to break into the home and advised the resident, who was not at the property at the time.
Detectives determined that the residence sustained damage when the suspects used a hand-held reciprocating saw during the attempted break-in, which disrupted power to the home and severed a water pipe inside the wall.
The suspects fled before officers arrived, going over a wall and onto a property on Chaucer Road. A resident in the 700 block reported seeing three male suspects running down their driveway and through nearby bushes, police said.
The three suspects were last seen on Chaucer Road heading toward Lombardy Road.
“A thorough search of several properties met with negative results and no suspects were located,” police said in a statement. “It is believed that the suspects were able to flee the scene and avoid capture prior to officers arrival.”
Based on witness statements and surveillance video, police described the suspects as males wearing tan boonie-style hats, face masks, green long-sleeved T-shirts, tan work pants, dark-colored shoes, and carrying black backpacks.
“The clothing closely resembled that of a landscaper,” police said. “The suspects appeared to run towards an older model dark colored sports utility vehicle. A surveillance camera likely belonging to the suspects was also recovered during the investigation.”
Anyone with information regarding the attempted burglary or the suspects was urged to contact the San Marino Police Department Detective Bureau at 626-300-0720. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.