An eyewitness phoned police a little after 1 pm today to report that he had seen a man climb through the window of a residence on the 800 block of San Leandro Boulevard.
Police arrived quickly and set up a perimeter around the residence. One officer saw an open window and then, moments later, saw it close.
Several minutes later officers in the front of the home saw a man walk out the front door.
The man, later identified as 21-year-old Oakland resident Jose Zarate, dropped a piece of jewelry onto the ground when he saw the police.
He was caught and handcuffed.
Minutes later, the victim arrived home. Officers showed her several pieces of jewelry taken from the suspect. She identified the items. Zarate was arrested for residential burglary.
In a subsequent interview Zarate told officers he was “desperate for money” and that was why he burgled the house, police said.
