Brazen, Violent Peninsula Theft Reported: Woman Punched, Robbed, Police Say

PALO ALTO, CA — The Palo Alto Police Department is investigating a strong-armed robbery reported this week in which two suspects on bicycles forcefully took a woman's purse as she was arriving at a family member's home in a South Palo Alto neighborhood. Police said in a news release Thursday that the victim, a woman in 60s, recalled seeing two men on bicycles as she arrived at about 11 p.m. Wednesday in the 2800 block of Bryant Street.

As she began unloading belongings from her car, the two men approached her. Without saying anything to her, one of the men punched the victim in her stomach, pushed her to the ground and grabbed her purse from her arm, police said. Both suspects then got on their bikes and rode south on Bryant Street, she told police.

As she screamed for help, a male family member ran outside and briefly chased the suspects.
Police were alerted at 11:10 p.m. and responded to the area but were not able to locate the suspects.
Officers found the victim suffering from a bruise to her knee and stomach pain from being punched. Her male family member suffered scrapes to his legs and arms, police said.

The victim’s stolen purse contained her wallet, several pieces of jewelry, and other personal items, according to police.

The victim described the first suspect as a man in his 20s who appeared to be about 6 feet tall and wore a black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants and had a black backpack. The second suspect was also in his 20s. He looked to be about 5 feet 9 inches tall and wore dark clothing, the victim told police.
Detectives are investigating the case.

No similar robberies have been reported in that area, according to police.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Palo Alto police at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the police department's free mobile app.

By Maggie Avants (Patch Staff) / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone