News

Robber steals purse from woman parked near Greer Park

Victim, in her 70s, fought to hold on to purse

A robber stole a purse from a woman who was sitting in her parked car on Jan. 6, 2023, in the 1000 block of Tanland Drive in Palo Alto. The woman had placed the purse on her front passenger seat, and the robber opened the passenger side door. Courtesy Google Maps.

A woman sitting in her parked car was the victim of strong-arm robbery around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, near Greer Park in Palo Alto, according to a police press release.

The woman, who is in her 70s, had just returned to her car, which was parked in the 1000 block of Tanland Drive, near Amarillo Avenue. She put her purse on the front passenger seat and was sitting in her vehicle when she noticed a man get out of a vehicle that had just pulled up across the street. That man walked over to her car, opened the passenger side door, and tried to take her purse, Palo Alto police reported.

She fought to hold on to the purse, and the two briefly struggled over it, but the robber was able to wrest it away from the woman. He ran back to the waiting car and got into the passenger’s seat. The driver then sped away toward Amarillo, and a witness reported that it turned east to head towards West Bayshore Road, police stated.

Police could not find the suspects. The victim described the robber as a man of unknown race between 18 and 22 years of age, wearing a black or blue hooded sweatshirt with white lettering. She did not see the driver. The victim and the witness described the vehicle as a gray minivan or hatchback.

The victim complained of pain to one of her hands but declined medical attention.

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Detectives are investigating the case. There have been no similar strong-arm robberies reported in Palo Alto recently, the press release stated.

Police are asking that anyone with information about this incident call the 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413 or send in anonymous tips via paloalto@tipnow.org or by text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984.

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Robber steals purse from woman parked near Greer Park

Victim, in her 70s, fought to hold on to purse

by Palo Alto Weekly staff / Palo Alto Weekly

Uploaded: Sat, Jan 7, 2023, 11:07 am

A woman sitting in her parked car was the victim of strong-arm robbery around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, near Greer Park in Palo Alto, according to a police press release.

The woman, who is in her 70s, had just returned to her car, which was parked in the 1000 block of Tanland Drive, near Amarillo Avenue. She put her purse on the front passenger seat and was sitting in her vehicle when she noticed a man get out of a vehicle that had just pulled up across the street. That man walked over to her car, opened the passenger side door, and tried to take her purse, Palo Alto police reported.

She fought to hold on to the purse, and the two briefly struggled over it, but the robber was able to wrest it away from the woman. He ran back to the waiting car and got into the passenger’s seat. The driver then sped away toward Amarillo, and a witness reported that it turned east to head towards West Bayshore Road, police stated.

Police could not find the suspects. The victim described the robber as a man of unknown race between 18 and 22 years of age, wearing a black or blue hooded sweatshirt with white lettering. She did not see the driver. The victim and the witness described the vehicle as a gray minivan or hatchback.

The victim complained of pain to one of her hands but declined medical attention.

Detectives are investigating the case. There have been no similar strong-arm robberies reported in Palo Alto recently, the press release stated.

Police are asking that anyone with information about this incident call the 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413 or send in anonymous tips via paloalto@tipnow.org or by text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984.

Comments

Bystander
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jan 8, 2023 at 5:28 pm
Bystander, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
Registered user
on Jan 8, 2023 at 5:28 pm

Many cars with central locking will automatically lock all doors when ignition is turned on. Many cars with central locking automatically open all doors when drivers door is unlocked. Both of these never happened with old cars where the key only opened the drivers door.

The habit of putting whatever we are carrying on the passenger seat is common for everyone. It seems that this is not a safe habit anymore.


Anonymous
Registered user
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jan 8, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Anonymous, Duveneck/St. Francis
Registered user
on Jan 8, 2023 at 5:58 pm

If you get in and toss your purse onto backseat, then you can’t see it.


kimmy
Registered user
Ohlone School
on Jan 9, 2023 at 3:35 pm
kimmy, Ohlone School
Registered user
on Jan 9, 2023 at 3:35 pm

Male 18-22 years of age. Wearing a hooded sweater. Thats all we get.????? Smh. Im Wondering was she fighting back with her eyes closed.??? Blind folder maybe.??? She gave us nothing. My kids and mother walk those streets daily.


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