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Palo Alto Police Department officers are investigating a robbery on De Soto Drive late Wednesday evening.
Police said a woman was sitting in her driveway on the phone in her car when an unknown man approached her car window and told her to give him her phone and purse, according to a police press release. The man allegedly had his hand under his sweatshirt, and the woman assumed he held a gun, though one was not seen, police stated.
She handed the man her phone and purse. There were no injuries reported.
The man fled on foot heading north on De Soto Drive, the release states. The woman described the suspect as a Black male in his twenties who stands at about 5 feet, 10 inches.
Police were dispatched at about 8:09 p.m. and searched for the suspect with a K-9 team from the Menlo Park Police Department and a helicopter from the San Jose Police Department. Police said they did not locate the robber.
However, police found the woman’s phone and processed it for fingerprints.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the police department’s 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-241 or send anonymous tips to paloalto@tipnow.org or 650-383-8984.
Given the need for better police response to crime in Palo Alto, I think we are pleased to hear that this robbery was treated better than we have been used to. Looking at Nextdoor posts with helicopters, Canine Units, Menlo Police, street closures on blocks and the fear of neighbors as to whether they should consider this a shelter at home situation, was this overkill response?