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Two nabbed in attempted Pleasanton break-in
Alert woman sees suspicious SUV, calls cops

by Glenn Wohltmann

Pleasanton police may have a break in a string of robberies over the last couple of weeks -- with the help of a local mom.

According to a police report, early Monday afternoon an alert Pleasanton woman noticed a suspicious dark-colored SUV outside her home on Brianne Court and called police. While the woman, who was alone with her 2-year-old daughter, was on the phone with a dispatcher, two men came to her front door and began knocking and repeatedly ringing the door bell.

With police already on their way, the woman discovered the men in her back yard and attempting to enter her home through a sliding glass door. The two men spotted her and drove off -- but not before she got their license plate number, which she quickly reported to police.

Officer Jarrod Yee saw the dark SUV near the woman's home and gave chase, following it onto Interstate 680 toward San Ramon; additional officers caught up and stopped the SUV at the Bollinger Canyon exit.

The two men, Terry Shumlai, 26, of Oakland and Pedro Contreras, 20, of San Leandro, were arrested for attempted burglary. In addition, Shumlai, who was on parole for earlier burglaries, was charged with parole violation. Both men were booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Police are commending the unnamed woman for stopping the men before they could commit other burglaries.

Pleasanton police have also made a second arrest in connection with an earlier investigation that led to charges against a Castro Valley man. That man, Peter Grgurevic III, 19, of Castro Valley was arrested Nov. 4 in a string of residential burglaries in northwest Pleasanton and in Castro Valley. Police said they'd tentatively identified 10 burglaries expected to tie Grgurevic to others as their investigation continues.

Sgt. Jim Knox said the investigation has led to the arrest of a second Castro Valley man. Jacob Jagoda, 20, faces charges of possession of stolen property.

The area has been hit by an unusual number of burglaries over the last few weeks. Between Nov. 8 and Nov. 21, there have been 20 burglaries and at least nine automotive burglaries.