By Town Crier Staff

A man posing as a pottery buff is allegedly snatching up decorative outdoor antique vases from Los Altos yards when residents aren’t home, to add to his illegal collection.

Los Altos police said the man is suspected of having stolen about one vase a week over the past month from private residences in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. The vases have ranged in value from $500 to $1,000 each.

The man has used the same scam in all of the cases, police said.

According to police accounts, the man approaches his victims at their homes posing as a pottery collector interested in purchasing a vase he spotted in their yards.

When the residents refuse to sell their pieces, the man waits for them to leave and goes back to the home to steal the vase.

All four victims said they noticed their vases missing after returning from errands.

One woman said her vase went missing several days after the man first approached her.

The man has targeted homes on Crooked Creek Drive, Fallen Leaf Lane Quinnhill Avenue and Van Buren Street. The first reported incident occurred March 4.

The most recent occurred Saturday.

Police said the man is more than likely scoping out houses.

“Multiple houses on multiple days in this small an area means that he is serious about stealing vases or works in the area doing construction or something and cruises the area before work,” said Los Altos Detective Cameron Shearer. “One stolen vase is a crime of opportunity, but three takes some intent.”

Victims said the man was driving a small-sized red pickup truck in Los Altos and a white sedan in Los Altos Hills. They said the suspect is a Caucasian about 45 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds with grayish brown hair and a narrow face.

Police are advising residents contacted by the suspect to attempt to obtain his license plate number and to call 911 when it is safe.