Palo Alto police are searching for a man who they say ripped a purse off a woman's shoulder in a Stanford Shopping Center parking lot on Monday afternoon before fleeing in a waiting vehicle.
The incident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot on the east side of Nordstrom, near Arboretum Road. The victim, a woman in her 60s, was standing near her parked car when a man walked up to her and forcefully pulled the purse off her shoulder, according to a police statement. The man then ran to a waiting car, which took off eastbound on Sand Hill Road, police said.
Police responded to the area immediately after the incident was reported but could not find the robber. The woman complained of pain in her shoulder and felt light-headed. She was transported to a local hospital by Palo Alto Fire Department paramedics as a precaution, police said.
The woman described the purse-snatcher as a male about 5 feet 7 inches tall, of unknown race or age. He was reportedly wearing a hooded sweatshirt and pants. The getaway vehicle was described as a red or maroon four-door sedan of a newer model, possibly a Toyota Camry. Police do not have a sketch of the suspect available at this time.
Police said there haven't been any similar crimes reported recently at the Stanford Shopping Center. The department has increased patrols in the area, according to the news release.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the police department's 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.
Comments
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 6, 2016 at 5:57 pm
on Sep 6, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Please, Stanford Shopping Center, increase your patrols and cameras so we can minimize these awful crimes. I am not especially knowledgeable about criminals but will make a guess they cased this location out and just waited for a vulnerable victim. Stanford is advertised as a sort of "luxury" locale.
We know there has been an increase in crime since Limousine Liberal Jerry Brown is letting petty thieves skate; thieves are bolder and society should NOT permit these criminals to get bolder; hopefully there will be a reversal in this state so that we can lower crime. I could care less that the jails and prisons are full; if APPROPRIATE then that's the way it is. The "solution" is not to let criminals hurt and abuse and rob and steal from the public. I have zero sympathy with criminals. Misplaced sympathy for criminals hurts society and innocent citizens. We have a right to do the most we can to be safe, not to err on the side of thieves and robbers who cunningly take less than the approx. $900 "limit" in place in this state at the moment.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 6, 2016 at 8:01 pm
on Sep 6, 2016 at 8:01 pm
I suppose this maybe is assault on the woman victim? But I was wondering if her purse/contents are worth less than the current figure for a felony (~$900) then....doesn't this criminal thug have less to fear IF charged. Just asking.
Meantime, in effect, criminals run wild. Thanks, California.
Barron Park
on Sep 7, 2016 at 10:51 am
on Sep 7, 2016 at 10:51 am
Great, you've just helped my daughter justify buying another expensive 'Felony Purse'.
It's absurb that someone can drive in/out of the Stanford Mall, commit a crime, and not be recorded on HD film.
Professorville
on Sep 7, 2016 at 11:24 am
on Sep 7, 2016 at 11:24 am
Was just over at Hoover building and there were about 20 parking attendants and many police and security. Next time I go shopping at the mall - I'm parking there
Adobe-Meadow
on Sep 7, 2016 at 11:32 am
on Sep 7, 2016 at 11:32 am
[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]
Crescent Park
on Sep 7, 2016 at 11:52 am
on Sep 7, 2016 at 11:52 am
Let's all start carrying items that add up to more than $900! Yes, we should boycott Stanford a shopping Center until they put cameras everywhere. By the way, let's stop blaming the victims.
Downtown North
on Sep 7, 2016 at 12:46 pm
on Sep 7, 2016 at 12:46 pm
2:30 pm in the afternoon is kinda scary. Now they don't wait until after dark!!!
Adobe-Meadow
on Sep 7, 2016 at 12:47 pm
on Sep 7, 2016 at 12:47 pm
[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]
Registered user
Midtown
on Sep 7, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Registered user
on Sep 7, 2016 at 1:10 pm
This is why I wear a cross-body handbag or a backpack-style one. Can't be ripped of your shoulder!
Adobe-Meadow
on Sep 7, 2016 at 2:59 pm
on Sep 7, 2016 at 2:59 pm
[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 7, 2016 at 8:57 pm
on Sep 7, 2016 at 8:57 pm
Stanford Shopping Center does not need old fashioned security cameras, remember, they have the high tech egg! Maybe the egg is rolling around the mall looking for its mate in Lytton Plaza. Someone please help it find it's mate, and then unplug it.