Police: Man Rips Gold Chain Right Off Woman's Neck in Belmont

By Renee Schiavone:

Belmont police are hoping that someone may have captured images of a man who robbed a woman of her jewelry while she was walking home in a Belmont neighborhood.

According to Belmont Police Capt. Patrick Halleran, the incident happened around 5:40 p.m. Friday.

At first, police thought they were responding to a domestic disturbance, based on witness accounts. However, they soon discovered it was actually a strong-arm robbery they were dealing with.

Halleran says investigators learned the East Indian woman in her 60s was walking on the south side of the 500 block of Mountain View Avenue when she was attacked.

“As she approached the intersection of Mountain View Avenue and Yorkshire Way, a black SUV pulled around the corner onto Yorkshire Way and stopped,” Halleran said. “A male suspect got out of the SUV, approached the victim and grabbed her arm.”

The woman struggled, and fell to the ground, he said.

“The suspect grabbed a gold chain from the victim’s neck and fled in the SUV, southbound on Yorkshire Way, toward Marine View Avenue,” Halleran said.

The man is described as a twenty-something Hispanic or light-skinned black male, approximately 5 foot 8 inches tall. He has a medium build and short, thick dark hair, according to police. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and dark jeans.

“The vehicle is described as a newer black mid-size SUV, similar to a Lexus or Acura,” according to Halleran. “The driver of the vehicle is unknown.”

Halleran also asked that people who have homes or businesses in the area with security cameras look for any possible footage of the incident or of the suspect.

“Belmont Police are asking for the public’s help in this investigation and are particularly interested in talking to any residents in the neighborhood with security cameras that may have captured the suspects and/or their vehicle on video,” he said.

NBC Bay Area reported Oct. 2 that a string dozens of similar robberies happened throughout Silicon Valley in recent weeks, in which someone snatches gold chains from women of Asian Indian descent.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Belmont Police at 650-595-7400 or the Belmont Crime Tip Line at 650-598-3000.

The map below shows the approximate location of the robbery.

(Main Story Image via Shutterstock)