Sister Asks Suspect to Surrender

The family of a man suspected of being a “hot prowl” burglar who has broken into more than 200 San Fernando Valley homes appealed Thursday for him to surrender to authorities.

Eric Rose Baer’s older sister contacted the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division station and said that the man police are seeking is emotionally troubled and possibly suicidal.

“Please believe me when I say that Eric is not the ‘violent monster’ portrayed by the media,” she wrote in a letter addressed to Detective Sandra Palmer, who is heading the search. The sister, who requested anonymity, said she feared that Baer could become suicidal.

“He is not afraid of death, and will not hesitate to kill himself before being taken into custody. I fear for his life,” the sister wrote.

Police are seeking Baer, 30, on warrants totaling $150,000. He is suspected of breaking into more than 200 Valley homes this year, most recently early Monday morning. Police say he often fed and pampered even the most vigilant watch dogs into complacent silence, sometimes raided the refrigerator, and stole cash, camping gear and gadgets.

An accomplished outdoorsman, Baer is believed to be hiding out in the High Sierra, where he previously has hiked and camped.

According to police, Baer has told family members that police would never take him alive.

Detectives advised that he could be considered armed and dangerous because weapons had been taken in some of the burglaries that he is suspected of committing.

The sister asked police to publicize a letter she wrote to Eric:

“I love you and care for you very much. . . . I know that you are a kind and compassionate person, a shy, intelligent and sensitive person. Things have not been so good for you in your life. I know how much pain you have had. I know how much you have suffered because I was there, too. I have felt your pain my entire life. I wish I could take my magic wand and erase it all so that you could start over again with a fresh, clean slate.

“I know that you need help and I hope that you will listen to this plea because it would kill both Daddy and me if anything bad happened to you. I can’t stand to see the pain in his eyes. Each night, he goes to bed with a heavy heart. So do I.

“Please give yourself up, Eric. If you do, you will receive the help you need. The detectives told me that they would see to it. I miss my baby brother very much.

I don’t judge you, Eric. I accept you as you are. Please come back.

Love,

Your Sister.”