Redwood City man arrested on suspicion of breaking into homes, groping woman

One of the victims awoke to find the suspect inappropriately touching her, police said.

REDWOOD CITY – A 21-year-old Redwood City man has been arrested on suspicion of breaking into homes and in one case groping a female resident, police said.

In a statement Friday, the Redwood City Police Department said it has investigated three incidents since January that involved a resident encountering a man she did not know inside her home.

The latest case was reported around 2:20 a.m. on March 19, when a resident awoke to find a man she did not know inappropriately touching her, according to police.

When confronted by the victim, the suspect barricaded himself inside a bathroom and escaped through an exterior window before officers arrived at the scene, police said.

Officers canvassed the surrounding neighborhood and obtained surveillance footage, which helped them identify the suspect and link him to the cases, police said.

The man was later arrested at his home and booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on charges of sexual battery, first-degree burglary and peeking, according to jail records.

Police said the incidents occurred at night and mostly in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Ebener Street.

The same man is also believed to have committed two additional burglaries, police said.

Anyone with information related to the cases can call Detective James Schneider at 650-780-7607.