crime reporter vic lee looked to see if he has changed his ways. >> remember dus t789, cat neighbors called klepto. he is now a household name. >> two weeks ago, dusty was our cat. now dusty's people. >> it all happened after we featured this cat burglar in our story two weeks ago. his owners figure dusty stolen about 600 items in three years. he leaves home at night and returns with his loot in the morning. a camera installed by the animal planet network captured his heists for a week. his record, 11 different items in one night. >> residents have complained about a cat. >> jay leno had fun with dusty. >> he has been on radio and tv all around the world. >> and talked about the internet. he has had more than two million hits. this story has gone absolutely feral. >> neighbors with missing belongings now know where to go. shawn saw his bathing suited and the story we aired. today he got them back. dusty's owner have now installed a burglar alarm to warn neighbors. they put a bell on his collar. with all the new purks he has brought, dusty, maybe crime does pay. >> that is about a low

vic lee returned to his hideaway to see if the cat burglar's new found fame has changed his ways. >> remember dusty? the cat neighbors call clepto. this house cat has become a household name. >> two weeks ago dusty was our cat. now we are dusty's people. >> dusty and his owners have become celebrities in their san mateo neighborhood. >> hi, super stars. >> it all happened after we featured this prolific cat burglar in our story two weeks ago. his owners figure dusty has stolen about 600 items in three years. he leaves at night and returns home with his loot in the morning. a camera installed captured the nightly heist for a week. his record, 11 different items in one night, and he is not choosey about what he steals from neighbors, gloves, shoes, children's toys and even people's personal items. >> residents are complaining about a cat. >> reporter: jay even had some fun with dusty. >> it is luke he is shopping at costco. >> reporter: david letterman flew dusty and his family to new york to appear on his show this week. in fact, dusty has been on radio and tv all-around the world. >>

vic lee covered the story when it happened back then and now he has more. >> reporter: a tiger expert who investigated the fatal attack wrote that the siberian tiger must have been provoked to jump from her en klior. one agrees. >> in order to be aj tiajd enough to jump out of en klior, she had to have been really taunted by the individuals. from the cafe if you turn the corner and you go down here and that is where the tiger. >> he is a veteran tiger trainer that has worked at the san francisco zoo. he has read the report and saw the pictures by the investigators. it shows claw scratches and more scratches on the top of the wall and blood smears outside the tiger enclosure where he killed the person. >> to jump 12 and a half feet and pull herself up, it's an outstanding feat that is very unusual. >> the siberian killed susa and injured two of his friends. the tiger leaped out of the got oh that was surrounded by a moat. the report says after the tiger sat with the body, the tiger likely followed the blood trail outside a cafe where she resumed her attack on one of the brothers. polic

the story from vic lee. >> you must have resolved in your own mind or resigned yourself to the fact thattil you die. >> yep. >> on january 12th after spending 18 years in prison, karamed connolly suddenly found himself a free man. a judge had overturned his conviction after learning the prosecution failed to reveal that the key witness received money from lead investigator and chief police earl standards. he had a hard time describing his euphoria when he was told he could go home. >> i would wake up in that small cell and look at the walls and say, wow, this is it so -- yeah, when that moment came, it was like -- it was surreal. you can't really describe it. >> connolly was 22 when he was convicted of a high profile drive-by shooting in 1989 that killed two in the bayview and was sentenced to life without parole. he served his time in nine prisons, all maximum security. >> it's like when you know you're innocent of something and you're subjected to something like that, it's like being buried alive. i would say i had a lot of moments of depression in there. >> connolly read self-help boo

vic lee covered the story when it happened back then and has more now. >> a tiger expert who investigated the fatal attack wrote that tatiana, the female siberian tiger, must have been provoked to jump from her enclosure. chris austria agrees. >> in order for her to have been agitated enough to jump out of her enclosure she had to be really taunted by the individuals. from the cafÉ if you turn the corner and make a right, you go down here and that's where the tiger exhibit is. >> austria is a veteran tiger trainer that's worked at marine world and the san francisco zoo. he read the report and has viewed pictures used by the investigators. they show her claw scratches 50 feet below the north wall, more scratches on the top and blood smear on the sidewalk outside the tiger grotto where tatiana killed carlos sousa. >> to jump up 12 1/2 feet and pull herself up, it's an outstanding feat that is very, very unusual. >> the siberian tiger killed sousa and injured his friends, brothers, on christmas day, 2007. the tiger leaped out of the grat tow surrounded by a mote and that 12 1/2 foot wall tha

vic lee reporting live. >> and the california supreme court agreed today to decide whether the sponsors of proposition 8 have the right to appeal this case. the same-sex marriage ban is currently being heard by a federal appeals court after a judge ruled it unconstitutional. the judges are not certain whether supporters have standing to make an appeal under california law. and this will delay this case. the state supreme court will not hear the arguments until at least september. >> coming up next a father of a so-called american taliban and why he thinks the government should take his son out of prison to give him a job. >> then from 7 on your side, necessary product lead test kog take a hit, just when it's's >> closed captioning brought to you by mancini sleepworld. >>> the father of the so called american tall hi banish yued a strong defense for his son today, painting a picture of a young man wrongly branded as a terrorist and a traitor by american media. saying the american military and bush administration botched the case before the moment he was captured in late twun. >> the hono

vic lee abc 7 news. >> thank you very much. another legal item tonight n santa clara county today, a man was ordered to stand trial on charges of beating a catholic priest. william lynch is accused of beating father jerry lindner last may. he claims father lindner sexual lay bused him, and his brother and that is charges the priest denied. and the judge preventing him from taking the standeed this is the case that father lindner was beaten by the defendant that. is what the jury is going to be deciding. >> prosecutors insist the trial isn't about what did or did not happen in the past but what happened last may, when the priest was beaten. the trial is expected to begin sometime late this summer, or fall. >> and oakland police are investigating a sexual assault of a young boy in the bathroom of a play center supposed to be a save haven for children in east oakland. laura? >> hi, cheryl. we're talking about the boys and girls club, a long-time well respected institution. accord together club president this young victim is a bran

vic lee has been monitoring this. what can you tell uss?> cheryl, this appears to be coming to an end. we heard police firing what appeared to be stun grenades through the window of that apartment and that's right behind me on west market street. this street boarders a small shopping mall. again, we don't know a lot of information because the police public information officer happens to also be the police negotiator. but this is what we do know. it all started about 5:00 this morning. police responded to that apartment because of reports that about five, perhaps six were fired. again, we don't know if they were from inside the unit or whether it came from outside on street next to the apartment. we were told that a man and woman are holed up in that apartment and that police did make contact with at least the woman early on. of course, all the neighboring apartment units have been evacuated but we don't know if anyone is being held against their will, if this is a hostage situation or not. again, information is not coming very quickly, agai

vic lee has the story. >> reporter: those attending the rally here stood in solidarity with students in liberation square. one good friend became a casualty of the violent confrontation there's. >> they were attacked and he got shot in his eye. >> this 26-year-old mba candidate and other students are fortunate they're getting college degrees abroad and believe they'll have no problems getting good jobs when they go back. but they say that is not true with many of those who are educated back home. this 25-year-old sarah is a grad student in public health. >> the school systems are very bad. teachers are paid incredibly low wages. >> this 20-year-old says it's not only poor quality of the education. >> you have to have connections. and corruption makes it harder for to you find a job. >> reporter: according to a report in 2008 about 28% of the college age egyptians were enrolled in universities. but the report also said that while more young people are getting degrees, there are not enough jobs to keep them employed. the jobless rate stands at over 25% among those under age 25. egyptia

abc 7's vic lee has the story. >> we need to focus on creating jobs regionally. not just in each city or county. >> this assembly managery hill joined by a host of public officials from san mateo county. all voiced their opinions to called local hiring ordinance. in december, supervisors passed an ordinance requiring 20% local hirings for city public works projects increasing to 50% in 2016. hill's legislation preventing state moneys from being used on those projects as well as others in city was a similar ordinance. standing in the wings were workers from san francisco who opposed this bill. most were from bay view hunter's point. >> we need jobs in the community. we're the last ones hired and first ones fired. >> hill maintains san francisco's local hiring till bill would apply to projects at sfo in san mateo county. carol groom is president of the county supervisor autos for a neighboring county of ours to say that men and women cannot work on projects in san mateo county is unacceptable. >> the author of the local hiring ordinance is supervisor john avilos. >

. >> abc 7's vic lee is live with what led to the arrest. vick?> this news comes as a surprise to members of the law enforcement community. he is well known among police narcotics officers because he's in charge of this task force which is comprised the various police departments and targets mid to high level drug dealers. the state ag tells us they launched this investigation sometime in mid january. welsh is a 12-year veteran of the narcotics bureau and the team that works out of an office in this building next to the police department. he was arrested this morning in benecia with a private detective, christopher butler out of this office in concord, agents came here with a search warrant. mark owns a roofing company next door. >> this morning about 9:30, and walked out of the office. there are, like, three -- three police cars here, one a chp and about nine or 10 police officers. >> welsh reportedly sold drugs with butler who is by the way working on a tv show called p.i.mommy. >> he's a very good tenant for six years, he's -- i believe he's in

abc 7's vic lee has the story. vick? >> dan, that is the paradox, he was only 22 when convicted of a double murder, he's now 416789 a lot changed in 18 years. >> you must have resolved or resigned yourself to the fact you're going to be there until you die. >> yes. >> on january 12th after spending 18 years in prison he suddenly found hip self a free man. a judge had overturned a conviction after learning that the prosecution received money from future police chief and connelly has a hard time describing his euphoria when told he he go home. >> i would wake up in that small cell and look at the walls like wow. you know? this is it. the moment came it and was like, surreal. you can't describe it he was 22 when convicted of a high profile drive by shooting in 1989. it killed two people in the bay view and he served time in nine prisons. >> it's like when you know you're innocent of something and you're subjected to that it's like being bury add live. boy have to say i have a lot of moments at of depression in there. >> con

since then he is more notorious, vic lee to see if the exposure to change the cat burglar's ways. >> remember dusty? the cat's neighbors called klepto. this house pet is a household name. >> two weeks ago he was our cat. now, we're dusty's people. >> it all happened when we featured him two weeks ago. his owners figure, dusty stolen about 6 high school items in three years. he leaves home at night and returns with his loot in the morning. a camera installed by the animal planet network captured his nightly heists for a week. his record 11 different items in one night. >> residents have complained about a cat. >> jay leno had some fun with dusty. >> he has been on radio and tv all around the world and talked about the internet. dusty has had more than two million hits, his story has gone absolutely feral. >> neighbors now know where to go. sean saw his bathing suits on the story we aired. today he got them back. they have installed a burglar arm to warn neighbors. they put a bell on his collar. with all the new purks, for dusty, maybe just maybe, crime does pay. >> i bet you anything

vic lee got an exclusive look at the operation called "brick." >> the when a peaceful demonstration suddenly ugly, police to have react quickly but events happened so fast, they may be getting mixed and confusing information. there is gunfire in the middle of the night. a high-tech gunshot spotter picks it up. or shots are fired nearby. where is the gunman going, in both situations, responding officers, every second count. >> when we have a gang-related shooting on saturday night, we can push and pull the information where our night captains can use this facility also move resources, it's about like a 24-hour war room. >> he says this war room will be able to coordinate police response to crimes as soon as they happen. the fatherly is in nondescript building at the foot of potrero hill. we promised police not to reveal it for security reasons will when it opens the state of the art facility will be known as brick, the bay area regional crime center. >> this will be this hour command post. the officers will be housed in this facility to a certain extent have their finger or pulse of the city.

vic lee, abc 7 news. >>> let's go back and talk to spencer. we tawched base a few moments ago about the cold. he is here now with the full forecast. spencer? >> all right, dan. get ready for the possibilities and the probability of snow? the bay area. first a look at current conditions. little chilly outside right now. temperatures in the mid 40s for most of the bay area. a bit colder overnight. showers headed our way for thursday and friday. snowflakes may actually reach sea level and accumulating snow may be seen above the 1,000-foot level. here is the satellite com compe image. bringing the showers and precipitation with it. behind that a blast of cold air coming down out of western canada and that is the re recie for snow in the not so high elevations. 5:00 tomorrow morning. may be light spotty scattered shower activity around. mid day into the late afternoon hours rainfall becoming more organized and spreading 5:00 p.m. to virtually all parts of the bay area. there will be heavy activity ahead of the front by 10:00 tomorrow night and behi

since then he is more notorious and crime reporter vic lee returned to see if exposure has changed thet burglar's evil ways. >> remember dusty? the cat's neighbors call klepto. he is now a household name. >> two weeks ago dusty was our cat, now we are dusty's people. >> we featured him two weeks ago. his owners figure that dusty stolen about 600 items in three years. he leaves home at night and returns with his loot in the morning. a camera installed by the animal planet network, captured his nightly heists for a week. his record, 11 different items in one night. >> residents have complained about a cat. >> jay leno had had fun with dusty. >> he has been on radio and tv ail around the world. and talked about the internet. he has more than 2 million hits, this story has gone absolutely ferel. >> neighbors now know where to go. shawn saw his bathing suit on the story we aired. today he got them back. owners now installed a burglar alarm. they put a bell on the collar. with all the new perrks he has brought to the household, maybe, just maybe, crime does pay. >> can't get enough. he is an

. >> and a cat burglar is on the loose in a neighborhood and he's hard to catch this, and vic lee caught steals tough you have stuff. >> neighbors like this 5-year-old know him by the alias. clepto the cat he took my mom's swimming clothes. >> neighbors are on guard. his victims don't intend to file police reports. >> no. we know where they go. >> i think those are footprints. >> they go to jean and jim's home. dusty belongs to them. in the past three years they figure he's stolen 600 items and he's not choosy. he'll take anything not locked down. >> towels gloves shoes socks. a little toys childrens' toy autos this pair of shoes he took in two trips and people's personal items. >> we have some black ones too. >> he likes bathing suits drying outside. he stole kelly's bikini bottom. >> came back and z.took the top home. so yeah wex know him well. >> dusty's m.o.is always the same. leaving home at night returning with his loot in the early morning. the tv network "animal planet" installed a camera that captured his nightly forays for a week. hsu says the record take is amazing. >> one nig

vic lee caught up with him in san mateo. >> meet dusty. by day he's a house pet.dusty is a cat burglar. >> she always steals stuff. >> neighbors like five-year-old ethan know him by his alias, klepto, the cat. >> well, he took my mom's swimming clothes. >> neighbors are on guard but his victims don't intend to file police reports. >> we haven't because we know where to go. >> i think those are for playing hockey. >> they go to jean chew and jim coleman's home. dusty belongs to them. in the past three years they figure he's stolen about 600 items, and he's not choosey. he'll take anything that's not locked down. >> towels, gloves, shoes, socks. little toys, children's toys. >> this pair of shoes which he took in two trips, and even people's personal items. >> we have some -- we had some black ones, too. >> he especially likes bathing suits drying outside. he stole kellie's bikini bottom. >> and came back ten minutes later and took the top home. so, yeah, we know him very well. >> dusty's m. o. is always the same. he leaves home at night and returns with his loot in

vic lee caught up with him in san mateo. >> meet dusty.s down, it's time to hit the streets. dusty is a cat burglar. >> so she always steals stuff. >> neighbors like five-year-old ethan know him by his alias: klepto, the cat. >> well, he took my moms's swimming clothes. >> neighbors are on guard but his victims don't file police reports. >> we haven't because we know where to go. >> i think those are for playing hockey. >> they go to jean chew and jim coleman's home. dusty belongs to them. in the past three years they figure he's stolen about 600 items and he's not choosey. he'll take anything that's not locked down. >> towels, gloves, shoes, socks. little toys, children's toys. >> this pair of shoes which he took in two trips and even people's personal items. >> we have some -- we had some black ones, too. >> he especially likes bathing suits drying outside. he stole kellie's bic kinney bottom. >> came back ten minutes later and took the top home. yeah, we know him very well. >> his m. o. is always the same. he leaves home at night and re

vic lee covered the story back then and has more now. >> a tiger expert who investigated the fatal attack wrote the female siberian tiger must have been provoked to jump from her explosser. chris agrees. >> in order for her to have been agitated enough to jump out of her closure, she had to have been taunted by the individuals. from the cafÉ if you turn the corner and make a right you go down here and that's where the tiger exhibit is. >> he's a veteran tiger trainer that's worked at the marine world and the san francisco zoo. he read the report and reviewed pictures used the investigators. they show tatiana's scratches above the wall, more on the top and blood smear on the sidewalk outside the tiger grotto where at that timian no killed carlos sousa. >> to jump up 12 feet and pull herself up, it's an outstanding feat that is very unusual. >> the siberian tiger killed sousa and injured his friends on christmas day 2007. the tiger leaped out of the grotto which was surrounded by a mote andna 12 and a half foot wall which was lower than federal safety recommendations. the report says after

vic lee abc 7 news. >> thank you. >> and in contra costa county a former sex crimes prosecutor who faces rape charges has won his job back. the deputy district attorney was fired from his conduct after being charged with the rape of an office colleague three years ago. an arbitrator ordered the county to reinstate whim back pay and benefits ruling the d.a.'s office had no cause to fire him. criminal charges are pending but the victim in this case reportedly reached a $450,000 settlement with the county. >> the federal judge who stopped executions in california five years ago got an up close look today at san quentin's new death chamber. the judge took a one-hour tour of the facility his 2006 ruling resulted in california's spending $900,000 to upgrade the death chamber and improve staff training. today was his first visit to the new facility joined by five news reporters. >> this seems to have been constructed more towards the hospital room or clinic. better description than the old chamber, which was a gas chamber. you know? it had those old doors that you know closed at the gas chamber

and vic lee reports from the castro. >> and this was on 16th street displacing 13 people. and this building on 17th street. then a fire this morning james owns the two flat building on the 400 block of 18th street. and operates a shop on the first floor. patrons told him about other fire eyes just thought to myself damn a fire bug in the city. thinking... that could with this place. >> someone tried to burn down his building by igniting a large piece of plastic signed of the doorway. this tenant smelled smoke. >> this i just grabbed it and came down. >> he doused flames then woke up the bolt yonz sandra says she's saved their lives. >> and they were asleep. >> taking stuff to be salvaged. >> tenants were back on 16th street looking for longs that would be saved. >> this is a place wiped out. butted. >> they lost almost everything that raced up the stairwell. anding has a hard time grasping what happened. >> angry. woke up just sad angry today. >> fire and police investigators are trying to see if they were set by the same person. and many say there would could be only one

vic lee caught up with him. >> meet dusty by day he a house pet.uncer ] most women in america aren't getting the calcium they need. but yoplait wants to change that. only yoplait original has twice the calcium of the leading yogurt. that's 50% of the daily value ♪ ♪ so pass on the news and we can help close this calcium gap together. to get you started, we're giving away a million free cups at yoplait dot com. the yoplait you love now in a 4-pack. try it today. captioning made possible by abc cable networks group you know what? i think these senior citizens are really going to appreciate us helping out. why can't we do this at the mall? i mean, i'll volunteer to try on some shoes. hey. how can i help you young folks? oh, i'm looking for a lee jenkins. well, you found one. oh, ok. well i'm eddie thomas. i'll be visiting here with you every day after school. oh. now, who are you young ladies looking for? gertrude grossman? aha! hey, gert! your volunteer's here. shake a leg. hi, mrs. grossman. i'm chelsea. oh, please call me gertie. do you like to arm