Teen arrested for breaking into a couple’s home and demanding to use their WiFi

A teenager in California was arrested after he woke up a sleeping couple and asked if he could use their WiFi network because he was out of data.

The Palo Alto homeowners, who are in their 60s, called police after they were awoken by the 17-year-old who they pushed down their hallway and out the front door.   

‘The couple had been asleep in their bedroom when they were awakened by the unknown suspect speaking to them and asking to use their WiFi network,’ Palo Alto police said in a statement, according to CNN. 

‘Officers determined the suspect had climbed into the home after cutting a screen covering an open window in the side yard,’ police said.  

‘The suspect’s motive for entering the home is unknown, but the victims reported that two kitchen knives were missing from a kitchen drawer.’

The teen, who is not being identified as he is a minor, was arrested for residential burglary, prowling and providing false information to an officer. 

Police also say they believe the suspect had stolen a bike from another backyard in the area.  

In that incident the person noticed a man in her backyard- and he motioned that he wanted to talk to her.    

‘The woman notified another resident of the home, an adult in his late teens, and together the two of them confronted the suspect in the side yard,’ police said. 

‘The suspect asked to use their WiFi network because he was out of data. The residents ordered the suspect to leave, and they watched him ride away on a bicycle. They did not notify police at the time.’

The next day, a man living at the home reported that his surveillance video had captured the suspect stealing his bike from the backyard, police said.

Authorities found the bike near the location where they detained the suspect.