A man with a semi-automatic handgun walked into Public Storage on East Bayshore Road in Palo Alto on March 2 and made off with cash and various items in what Palo Alto police said was one of three robberies that occurred in the city throughout the day.
Police received a call about the robbery at the storage business at 2047 East Bayshore just before 5 p.m. Saturday. According to the caller, a man had just walked into Public Storage, pulled out a silver semi-automatic handgun and held the store's single employee at gunpoint. Police said the robber took items from the victim, a man in his 50s, and from the business, including cash and the landline phone. He allegedly told the employee to stay on the ground before fleeing on foot.
Police said the employee waited a few minutes and then went to a nearby business and called 9-1-1. He did not see the getaway vehicle. Officers arrived at the scene minutes later but could not locate the robber.
The victim described the robber as a black man in his 20s, about 6 feet tall with a thin build and wearing a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head, blue jeans and dark-colored gloves. He also had an inch-long beard or goatee. Police said they are investigating this robbery's possible connection to any others that have occurred in the city since early December.
The Public Storage robbery is one of three robberies that police said occurred in Palo Alto over the span of about eight hours. The other two strong-arm robberies both occurred in downtown Palo Alto and, in one case, an arrest was made. The two downtown robberies were allegedly committed by different suspects. Police do not believe these robberies were connected to each other or to the one at Public Storage.
Police said that of the three victims in the robberies, two were unharmed while a third was treated for an injury and released at the scene.
One of the downtown robberies took place just past midnight Sunday in the City Hall parking garage, according to the police. A woman who works downtown called the police at 12:28 a.m. to tell them she had been robbed on a garage stairwell about 10 minutes prior to the call.
The victim, a woman in her 20s, was returning to her car when a man came up to her on the stairwell and placed one of his hands on the back of her neck. While grabbing her neck, he used his other hand to take cash from her rear pants pocket. He then fled on foot, police said. The woman returned to her place of employment and called the police. She was not injured.
The robber in the incident was described as a black male in his 30s, about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds, with tattoos on the side of his neck. He was wearing a black T-shirt and either a black or a dark gray beanie and had black hair in dreadlocks that hung to his lower back. Police said he did not appear to be armed.
The other downtown robbery also occurred at around midnight, in the 400 block of Lytton Avenue. Police said the victim, a woman in her 60s, approached a group of men who were standing on the sidewalk and asked if she could buy a cigarette. One of the men allegedly handed her a cigarette. When she opened her purse to get some change, the man snatched the $5 bill out of her hand and tried to run away, police said. After a few steps, he dropped the bill. Police said when the woman picked the money up, he grabbed her arm and bit her on the hand, forcing her to release the money to him. Police said he then ran away with the money south on Kipling Street.
Palo Alto police identified the man as Thomas Joseph Lewis, a 38-year-old Vallejo resident. Officers passed on the information about Lewis and the car he was driving to neighboring police agencies.
At about 2 a.m., East Palo Alto police spotted Lewis on University Avenue, near Donohoe Street in East Palo Alto. He was detained without incident until Palo Alto police arrived to interview him, police said. Police booked Lewis at the Santa Clara County Main Jail for one count of robbery. They do not believe he is connected to any other street robberies that have occurred in the city in recent weeks, including the one at City Hall.
Police announced Sunday that they are increasing patrols in the downtown area in response to these robberies while they're conducting follow-up investigations.
Anyone with information about the public-storage robbery can contact the Police Department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413.
Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text
message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
Comments
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2013 at 4:24 pm
on Mar 3, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Hmmm .. extra handsets are about $10 these days (maybe even a little less at a surplus store). And surveillance cameras .. not that expensive, these days.
another community
on Mar 3, 2013 at 4:55 pm
on Mar 3, 2013 at 4:55 pm
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Downtown North
on Mar 3, 2013 at 5:18 pm
on Mar 3, 2013 at 5:18 pm
This storage space is technically in East Palo Alto. Why does this newspaper misinform?
another community
on Mar 3, 2013 at 7:14 pm
on Mar 3, 2013 at 7:14 pm
Which East Bay Shore Storage Unit?
1961 E. Bayshore is in EPA...
whereas
2047 E. Bayshore is in fact in Palo Alto.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 3, 2013 at 8:56 pm
on Mar 3, 2013 at 8:56 pm
According to the police press release, it was 2047 East Bayshore in Palo Alto.
Web Link
"On Saturday, March 2, 2013, at about 4:57 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a 9-1-1 call reporting that an armed robbery had just occurred at Public Storage at 2047 East Bayshore Road."
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2013 at 9:10 pm
on Mar 3, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Is this the place across the street from the post office and next to a school?
Crescent Park
on Mar 3, 2013 at 10:07 pm
on Mar 3, 2013 at 10:07 pm
>> Police said the victim, a woman in her 60s, approached a group of men who were standing on the sidewalk and asked if she could buy a cigarette. One of the men allegedly handed her a cigarette. When she opened her purse to get some change, the man snatched the $5 bill out of her hand and tried to run away, police said. After a few steps, he dropped the bill. Police said when the woman picked the money up, he grabbed her arm and bit her on the hand, forcing to the release the money to him. Police said he then ran away with the money south on Kipling Street.
Sheesh ... I can scarcely believe this story ... can a person get any more low and scummy than this?
Does anyone think that this guy will go to jail and get rehabilitated or do anything to fix his life? Strong-arming an old lady and then biting her for 5 bucks ... that's just disgusting. This kind of person should just be in jail his whole life because when he gets out he is just going to cause more and bigger problems.
Mountain View
on Mar 4, 2013 at 7:19 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 7:19 am
I've read enough of these stories to not want to frequent Palo Alto any more. These are the acts of brazen criminals who appear to fear nothing.
I suggest Palo Altans head over to Mountain View for a safer experience in our downtown.
Downtown North
on Mar 4, 2013 at 7:41 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 7:41 am
Sure, there is been an uptick in robberies of late, but overall downtown Palo Alto is still a safe place to work, shop and dine. i know that sounds like an ad from the Chamber of Commerce, but it always bothers me to read a comment like,"Im not coming back to downtown PA because of crime.' C'mon, its still a great downtown.
East Palo Alto
on Mar 4, 2013 at 8:23 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 8:23 am
60 yr old woman approaches a group of men to ask for a cigarette and then gets robbed of $5.
1. Quit smoking
2. Buy your own cigarettes
3. Do not approach a group of men and ask for a cigarette.
4. For a lousy $5 you could have avoided getting bit.
Shall I go on?
Greenmeadow
on Mar 4, 2013 at 8:34 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 8:34 am
@mountain viewer. University ave has had problems from homeless, vagrancy, public intoxication, car break ins, bike thefts, etc. for the last few decades. It is really quite scummy and I do make frequent trips to Mt View to enjoy Castro and many of the other local business that havent been forced out by high rents (like Palo Alto).
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 4, 2013 at 9:34 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 9:34 am
Just a note to you 'whippersnappers". A woman who is sixty years old is NOT an "old lady".
Downtown North
on Mar 4, 2013 at 10:05 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 10:05 am
To robit noops and mountain viewer. I work in downtown PA everyday. It is one of the most pleasant environments there is for an urban or suburban downtown. I suppose that's why there is such a low vacancy rate. Sure, there is the occasional crime. That kind of thing occurs in any downtown, we just hear about it more because we have at least three newspapers in town reporting every little thing...like someone got there cell phone taken, or someone got $5 Taken when she tried to bum a cigarette. I just think the whole crime, homelessness, car break-ins thing is being blown out of proportion and y'all are not seeing the charm and buzz of downtown PA. I see it's greatness each day and as I think there is room for improvement, it's still a lot better than you and the media are making out to be.
Portola Valley
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:03 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:03 am
Its true we hear about every little crime now-a-days, but its become glaringly apparent that more of these "little crimes" (like strong arm robbery w/ guns in the middle of the sidewalk) are happening in Palo Alto and NOT happening nearly as frequently as the surrounding areas. I 2nd and 3rd the comment that Mountain View has a VASTLY more enjoyable downtown experience, especially for families
College Terrace
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:04 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:04 am
People please...there is equal amount of crime in downtown mountain view. Just dont go out late at night alone in a downtown dark area. Use your common sense. And carry mace if you are alone in a parking garage. Use your head.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:37 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:37 am
A 60-year old lady who walks up to a group of men on a downtown sidewalk at midnight asking for a cigarette is not thinking clearly. She may or may not be old, but she's definitely not smart.
University South
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:39 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:39 am
There is a flurry of robberies in Palo Alto because:
1) We're supposed to be a wealthy community, and
2) The University Ave area is conveniently close to E. Palo Alto, so robbers see lots of people walking around and can quickly drive away down the street to East Palo Alto.
and. . . why would a woman go up to a group of men standing around at midnight and ask for a cigarette? and be surprised if there's trouble??
University South
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:39 am
on Mar 4, 2013 at 11:39 am
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
another community
on Mar 4, 2013 at 12:59 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 12:59 pm
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Old Palo Alto
on Mar 4, 2013 at 1:08 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 1:08 pm
The citizens of Palo Alto are sitting ducks!! I've lived in this town my entire life and I've never heard of more crime that there is nowaways in PA. The PA Police aren't cracking down on the violence.
Too much "political correctness" in this town.
South of Midtown
on Mar 4, 2013 at 1:32 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 1:32 pm
thee cigareete thing was added to a more seriuos incident to make it look like spate. different incidents are used to blame someone.. either minority persons or ''homeless''. the robber was probably not ''homeless''. maybe some are , but everyone wants to hate rather than examining themselves. doesent matter to me if youre ignorant. maybe its as it should be........
Downtown North
on Mar 4, 2013 at 2:26 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Based on PA Weekly reports, this type of crime does appear to be rising in Palo Alto. No matter what type of citizens alert is used, more police and money to pay them will continue to be an issue. For the third incident in this story, "...around midnight, in the 400 block of Lytton Avenue. Police said the victim, a woman in her 60s, approached a group of men who were standing on the sidewalk and asked if she could buy a cigarette..."; I'm glad that Raymond, Jane and others are questioning this. Aside from being foolish choice by the victim to be walking about after midnight on her own, it is just not normal behavior to ask a strange group of men to "buy a cigarette". The rest of the incident are just effects to an undetermined cause. Don't be surprised if version 2 of that story comes out where it wasn't a robbery but rather a disagreement among strange friends...
Charleston Gardens
on Mar 4, 2013 at 2:43 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 2:43 pm
"People please...there is equal amount of crime in downtown mountain view."
Please don't make up things using your assumptions. Especially when they are simply not true. I've taken my daughter to both downtown areas. I stopped taking her to DT Palo Alto if at all possible. Its become a pit. No thanks.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 4, 2013 at 3:44 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Mountain View has averaged 49 robberies a year between 2007 and 2011. Palo Alto has averaged 32 between 2008 and 2012.
Palo Alto is pretty safe, and no statistics suggest it is getting worse. But that is no excuse to tolerate crime at the current level. We need more police, more cameras, and fewer idiotic policies that attract mentally ill homeless and drug addicts to loiter in the city.
Greater Miranda
on Mar 4, 2013 at 5:14 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 5:14 pm
I'd be very interested to see equal comparisons from just the last two years. MV vs PA from 2010-2012
Greater Miranda
on Mar 4, 2013 at 5:18 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Just looking at the PA stats, that means that in just one day, PA got 10% of their yearly average robberies since 2008. Is that a trend towards safety? We're seeing ARMED robberies on the street as well. That seems like something is broken and needs fixing fast.
Old Palo Alto
on Mar 4, 2013 at 7:55 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Only when an extremely influential person, or a very rich person in PA gets robbed downtown, will the city and the police department start to take action and address the crime problem. The PA police department will only get tough when they feel some heat. Sad but true.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 4, 2013 at 8:39 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 8:39 pm
@ Gail - That's not fair to the police, they are tough and do a good job given that they are terribly understaffed. They are the ones who really get it and could do something about it. The city council and mayor, not so much. You are right though, it will take something worse to happen before any sort of political will to do something arises.
Stanford
on Mar 4, 2013 at 9:06 pm
on Mar 4, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Posted by Raymond, a resident of East Palo Alto, 12 hours ago
60 yr old woman approaches a group of men to ask for a cigarette and then gets robbed of $5.
1. Quit smoking
2. Buy your own cigarettes
3. Do not approach a group of men and ask for a cigarette.
4. For a lousy $5 you could have avoided getting bit.
Shall I go on?
_________
Raymond,
Clearly this woman did not exercise sound judgment. But she did not deserve to be bitten. She was the victim, and victims should not be blamed or chastised for their smoking habit.
College Terrace
on Mar 5, 2013 at 12:39 am
on Mar 5, 2013 at 12:39 am
I've always felt safe parking at City Hall. After all the Police are there, aren't they? Perhaps there need to be cameras in the stairwells. I've never walked in the stairwell really late or alone, but it has crossed my mind that's a good ambush place. PAPD .. please monitor all levels and stairs of that parking facility.
St. Claire Gardens
on Mar 5, 2013 at 3:41 pm
on Mar 5, 2013 at 3:41 pm
too many cops spoil the soup.
Downtown North
on Mar 5, 2013 at 5:48 pm
on Mar 5, 2013 at 5:48 pm
No, too many criminals do.
another community
on Mar 5, 2013 at 11:43 pm
on Mar 5, 2013 at 11:43 pm
Funny how my post was removed. The truth is tough for some to accept I guess.
Since the paper is not going to allow people to discuss real issues, it shouldn't bother allowing anyone to post comments at all.
That would be the safest PC thing to do.
South of Midtown
on Mar 6, 2013 at 1:09 pm
on Mar 6, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Ha. You've got to be delirious or deliberately "mistaken" if you think downtown Mt View is even half as bad as downtown Palo Alto.
Mt View has the random drunks after the bars close, but you won't find a park full of derelicts as you do right there by Pizza a Go Go in Play. Nor is there a 7-11 with even more panhandlers and people bothering customers. (which makes me wonder--why are PA cops ALWAYS at starbucks on Stanford Ave, and 7-11 on Colorado, but NEVER seem to be at the downtown PA 7-11??)
The streets are deserted in downtown MV after 2am. Downtown PA is full of dark corners and people camping out. If you take away the Latham area from MV crime reports...it you'd see less 211s than PA
MV police haven't been taken over by PC requirements as PAPD has since the 90s (probably 80s)
South of Midtown
on Mar 6, 2013 at 1:13 pm
on Mar 6, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Also--are the dates right??? This was AFTER the gun buy back, so it seems very unlikely that someone would be using a gun in a crime.
Especially since a silver semi auto was probably a Raven or Jennings or some other junker. Those aren't worth $50 used anyway. I'm sure any criminals would have used the gun buy back to double their money as well as turn their life around.
Midtown
on Mar 7, 2013 at 10:59 am
on Mar 7, 2013 at 10:59 am
It is shocking when people blame the victims for the acts of thugs. People who commit crimes like this are the worst of humanity. The fact that some will excuse it or tolerate it is just difficult to understand.