Roadside Palo Alto Robbery: Suspects Punch, Kick Victim, Police Say

PALO ALTO, CA -- Police in Palo Alto said Wednesday they are investigating a "peculiar daytime" robbery in which a man who pulled off to the side of Oregon Expressway was punched and kicked by two suspects who then ran off with his credit card. According to police, the victim said he was driving southbound on Highway 101 at about 3 p.m. July 10 when he exited the highway onto a Palo Alto street because of a mechanical problem he was having with his car.

The victim reported that as he got out of his car -- based on the victim’s description of the area, police believe the victim was referring to Oregon Expressway -- two men walked up to him and demanded his wallet. The men then punched and kicked him, knocking him to the ground, police said. The victim told police that while he was on the ground, the two men took a credit card from his wallet -- leaving the wallet behind as they ran off.

The next day, personnel from an area hospital called Palo Alto police to report they'd treated a patient who said he'd been a victim of a robbery in Palo Alto. Officers were dispatched to interview the victim, who suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Investigators have since not been able to locate any witnesses to the incident, nor have any similar robberies been reported, police said.

According to police, the victim described one of the suspects as a clean-shaven black man in his 20s, standing about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 240 pounds. He wore sunglasses, an Oakland Raiders cap, a white shirt and baggy blue jeans.

The second suspect was described by the victim as a black man in his 20s with a scruffy beard, who stood about 6 feet tall and weighed about 150 pounds. The victim was unable to describe the second suspect’s clothing, police said, nor was a suspect vehicle seen.

Palo Alto police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call their 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984.

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