For release on November 21, 2012

CONTACT:
Thomas Flattery
Deputy District Attorney
(408) 792-2542

Bay Area House Burglar Pleads Guilty

A 35-year-old Alameda man pleaded guilty today to a four-county, Bay-area home burglary spree that included breaking into the Palo Alto home of the late Apple, Inc. co-founder, Steve Jobs.

Kariem McFarlin was convicted of eight counts of Residential Burglary and one count of Possessing Stolen Property, all felonies. He could face up to seven years and eight months in prison when sentenced on January 17, 2013.

From at least March, 2011 to July, 2012, McFarlin targeted homes in affluent neighborhoods that appeared vacant while under construction or being remodeled. In addition to the Palo Alto burglary, McFarlin admitted breaking into two homes in Marin County, four homes in San Francisco County and one home in Alameda County. He also admitted keeping hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property from those burglaries at his home and storage locker in Alameda. McFarlin’s stolen haul included computers, jewelry, furniture and a solid silver bar.

“This case can serve as a warning to families who may leave their homes for an extended period – either for vacation or while the home is under construction,” Deputy District Attorney Thomas Flattery said Wednesday “An empty, unprotected house is like low hanging fruit to thieves. Lock doors. Use alarms. Take precautions. "The case was investigated by the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT) taskforce, a multi-jurisdictional taskforce led by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, and with the cooperation of Police Departments in Sausalito, Tiuron, San Francisco, and Alameda. On Aug. 2, 2012, REACT agents arrested McFarlin in Alameda. He has been in custody for lack of $500,000 bail.

The plea was a result of cooperation between District Attorney’s Offices in Santa Clara, Marin, San Francisco and Alameda Counties.