Burglar Found Hiding in Closet

A Mira Mesa man found a burglar hiding in his closet only hours after two other suspects had been arrested during a break-in at the same home, police reported Wednesday.

Henry Chao found the third burglar about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, several hours after he had summoned police because he had walked in on three youths who were ransacking his home.

Chao had returned home about 12:40 p.m. for lunch and discovered the break-in, Bill Robinson, a spokesman for the San Diego Police Department. Chao left and called police from a neighbor’s house.

When police arrived, they found two burglars leaving, one through the front and the other through the rear entrance, Robinson said.

One of them, a 16-year-old from East San Diego, was taken to Juvenile Hall. The other, identified as Hai Cong Pham, 18, also of East San Diego, was booked at County Jail on suspicion of burglary, carrying a loaded gun and having a concealed weapon without a license in his vehicle. His bail was set at $100,000, authorities said.

“Police officers believed the third burglar had escaped,” Robinson said.

Police searched the house and used police dogs and helicopters to search the nearby canyon, where they believed the third burglar may have hidden, Robinson said.

Later that day, though, Chao found the third man hiding in the closet, Robinson said.

“He saw a large lump underneath some blankets,” Robinson said.

When the burglar was found, Robinson said, “He ran out with the owner in pursuit.”

The burglar, who police believe to be a 17-year-old boy, escaped after Chao fired three shots from a handgun, though none apparently hit him.

Robinson said police believe the burglars took about $100 in coins, and that the 17-year-old took a handgun from the home.