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El Cerrito Cops Find Bungling Burglar, Who Dropped Store Receipt During Home Break-in, Standing Outside The Same Store

EL CERRITO (CBS SF) -- A 27-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after he left behind several pieces of evidence linking him to an El Cerrito home that had valuables stolen from it on Monday, police said.

El Cerrito police said officers first responded to the residential burglary at 11:26 p.m. Monday in the 5300 block of Cypress Avenue.

Officers discovered that sometime during the day, police said, a suspect kicked open the front door of the home, entered it and stole jewelry, cash and electronics.

But the suspect left a print from his shoe on the door, police said. He also left behind a bicycle containing a bag of Cheetos and an orange soda with a receipt from Safeway in the backyard, police added.

On Tuesday, an officer went to the Safeway to watch video surveillance of the transaction documented on the receipt, police said.

As the officer was leaving the same store, he found the suspect in the parking lot, police said. He was still wearing the same clothing from the video and shoes that matched the print on the door.

The Richmond resident, whose name was not provided, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and a parole violation. He was booked into Martinez Detention Facility.

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