The Palo Alto Police Department's latest tech-forward effort is a free mobile app, launched Tuesday, that provides immediate access to the latest news as well as crime maps, urgent alerts, video and photo content and other features.Dubbed Palo Alto Police Department Mobile, the app is available for free in the Apple store for iOS devices and in the Google Play store for Androids.The app consolidates all of the department's content and services in one place: press releases, an anonymous tip-submi...

A 45-year-old Palo Alto woman was arrested for allegedly stealing diamonds from a San Mateo jewelry store, according to police.Angela Walker reportedly pretended to a customer interested in buying a ring on March 27 at Galati Jewelers, at 35 E. 4th Ave., said the San Mateo Police Department.Walker allegedly looked at several loose diamonds, as well as a solitaire diamond ring, and when the clerk went into the shop's backroom, Walker used the unattended moment to poc...

If you see a Palo Alto police cruiser passing by, the odds are that the cruiser can also see you, even if the officers inside are gazing in the opposite direction.The Palo Alto Police Department has recently installed new video systems on dozens of cruisers, replacing the recording systems that were first installed on police vehicles in 2006. In addition to the usual enhancements one can expect with video upgrades -- high-definition video and high-fidelity audio -- the new recording systems have...