Video Leads to Suspected Porch Prowler

Here's information provided by the Livermore Police Department:

On December 5, 2012, the Livermore Police department was called to a residence on Walnut Street where the victim wished to report an ongoing theft problem.  The victim advised the responding officer that over a period of several weeks, they had suffered numerous thefts of items from their front and rear yards.  Due to the ongoing thefts, the resident set up a security camera to record activities on the front porch of the residence.  The security camera had documented an unknown male entering onto the front porch and taking items from the porch in the very early morning hours.  The resident supplied the officer with the video.  The resident also posted the video on YouTube and on the Livermore Patch online news website.

The responding officer shared the video with all Livermore Police officers in an effort to identify the suspect. The next day, a Livermore Police traffic officer took a collision report involving a subject who appeared to be the suspect from the video.  The traffic officer supplied that information to the investigating officer.  After some follow up, it was determined that Stephen Ruth (DOB: 05/25/90), who lives in the same neighborhood as the victim, was likely the suspect.

On December 9, 2012, officers located Ruth and confronted him with the video.  Ruth admitted to being the person captured by the video camera and stated he had only entered onto the porch to take cigarette butts from an ashtray.  A probation search was conducted at Ruth’s residence and no contraband or stolen property was located.  The theft report will be sent to the District Attorney for a review of charges against Ruth.

The Livermore Police Department wants to use this incident to remind our residents to review their home security.  Don’t leave valuable items on your porch and avoid having packages delivered to your property unsecured during the holidays.  Ensure adequate lighting on the exterior of your home and install motion activated lighting if possible.  Home security cameras can provide valuable evidence if criminal activity does occur.  Consider joining your local Neighborhood Watch and if there is not an active Neighborhood Watch program in your area, consider starting one.  Information about Neighborhood Watch can be found on the Livermore Police Department website at www.cityoflivermore.net.