Palo Alto police are looking for three youths who reportedly robbed a man of his cellphone near the Caltrain station on University Avenue Monday evening.
Police said the robbery occurred at about 6:30 p.m. downtown on University Avenue near the station. A man in his 30s was reportedly walking toward the station when he noticed that he was being followed by three youths, according to a news release issued Tuesday. The man stopped to check his email on his phone and let the trio pass, police said. When he looked up, the three youths were blocking the sidewalk. One reportedly slapped the man's phone out of his hand while another attempted to kick him, police said.
They then grabbed the man's phone off the ground and ran up the pedestrian ramp toward the northbound Caltrain station platform. The man ran after them and searched inside the waiting train but did not find the three youths.
The man described the trio as black males who were about 16 to 18 years old. One was described as 5 feet 10 inches with a thin build, short black hair and an outfit of a black shirt and gray pants. Police released a sketch of the suspect on Thursday evening.
The second one was about 5 feet 7 inches tall with a black hooded sweatshirt and dark baggy pants. The man could not further describe the third youth, other than to say he was also about 5 feet 7 inches tall.
Police do not believe the Monday incident is connected to a Nov. 23 strong-arm robbery on a bike path parallel to the railroad tracks near Encina Avenue. No suspects had been identified in that robbery, which remains under investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent by text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the police's free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.
Comments
Professorville
on Jan 15, 2019 at 12:45 pm
on Jan 15, 2019 at 12:45 pm
Why do I never see police foot patrols of Palo Alto's pedestrian routes?
Midtown
on Jan 15, 2019 at 3:10 pm
on Jan 15, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Population in Palo Alto: 125000 (residents, workers, shoppers, etc). Maximum number of officers of 99 divided by 3 shifts (no sick, vacations, vacancies, etc): 33. Looks like one officer to serve and protect about 3800 people, If there ever is a real issue (disaster, coordinated attack, etc) good luck.
Registered user
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jan 15, 2019 at 10:46 pm
Registered user
on Jan 15, 2019 at 10:46 pm
@Shorty,
I have heard the number of police on duty are much lower than that. I've heard that at any one point in time there are no more than 8 police cars on duty. Maybe a PAPD rep can correct that info if it is wrong.
Woodside
on Jan 16, 2019 at 12:49 am
on Jan 16, 2019 at 12:49 am
But why do these thugs want to steal the phone? Are they trying to catch it in an unlocked state? Who's going to buy a locked phone? What do they do with it?
Downtown North
on Jan 16, 2019 at 7:36 am
on Jan 16, 2019 at 7:36 am
This is getting ridiculous. Not a week goes by without a woman being bothered in our little town, and now 6:30 pm in a busy location? It sounds like we need a different solutions than Police patrols, sounds like the numbers being discussed here won’t have any impact even if doubled ...
Barron Park
on Jan 16, 2019 at 8:38 am
on Jan 16, 2019 at 8:38 am
Street crime is becoming more prevalent in Palo Alto. Every week we seem to be hearing (or reading) of another account.
PAPD needs to focus on repeated/reported 'crime zone' incidents. Added foot patrols or police cruising certain areas with regularity. This would serve as a deterrent in addition to added arrest possibilities.
If PA law enforcement manpower is understaffed...
(1) enlist the PAPD reserve officers for added coverage
(2) enlist the Guardian Angels to assist in foot patrol & surveillance
(3) create a voluntary community watch program
(4) though controversial, added focus on statistical 'profiling' of assailants & robbers who fit the 'profile'
Perceived Palo Alto affluence is making the city a target zone for out-of-town, would-be criminals.
Midtown
on Jan 16, 2019 at 11:14 am
on Jan 16, 2019 at 11:14 am
Looks like the income and wealth inequality of the Bayarea citizens is manifesting its symptoms. Don't forget to ask the WHYs when you see theft related crimes.
Midtown
on Jan 16, 2019 at 11:37 am
on Jan 16, 2019 at 11:37 am
Citizen now apologizes for the affluence of Palo Alto. States that having a cell phone is a justification for someone who wants it to steal it. This is the kind of logic that makes rational people bang their heads against a wall. Obviously a sheltered individual who justifies the taking of property as the fault of the "have" and not the fault of the "have not" who took the phone. The type of person that would chose to put the person with the cell phone in jail for walking around in public using it, which of course was the reason for three young punks to take it. Not the robber's fault. It was the man's fault for using the phone. Pathetic.
Barron Park
on Jan 16, 2019 at 1:34 pm
on Jan 16, 2019 at 1:34 pm
> ...added focus on statistical 'profiling' of assailants & robbers who fit the 'profile'
Yep. Call it 'catch and release'. If the profiled are law-abiding citizens, they have nothing to fear.
This practice would also corral those with outstanding warrants and/or illegal aliens...no different than having your ID checked when pulled over for a traffic violation.
Mountain View
on Jan 16, 2019 at 1:35 pm
on Jan 16, 2019 at 1:35 pm
@Wondering - Stolen phones have value. They can be parted out with their components sold for repairs.
Barron Park
on Jan 16, 2019 at 2:44 pm
on Jan 16, 2019 at 2:44 pm
> States that having a cell phone is a justification for someone who wants it to steal it.
Not necessarily...but someone carrying around a $1K ApplePhone 10 & constantly yakking on it might draw some attention depending on Veblen factor.
I carry a 'flipper' and absolutely no one has any interest in stealing it.
A cell phone is just another appliance. No big deal.
Midtown
on Jan 16, 2019 at 9:05 pm
on Jan 16, 2019 at 9:05 pm
You can thank Prop 47 for this. Petty thieves pretty much know there's no punishment for the crime. The pendulum of justice has swung too back the other way from the "well-meaning" Prop 47.
Palo Verde
on Jan 16, 2019 at 10:25 pm
on Jan 16, 2019 at 10:25 pm
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Downtown North
on Jan 16, 2019 at 10:42 pm
on Jan 16, 2019 at 10:42 pm
You may only have 3 officers on at night.
South of Midtown
on Jan 16, 2019 at 11:08 pm
on Jan 16, 2019 at 11:08 pm
Statistical profiling controversial? I think you mean illegal. I don't think papd has reserves either to draw from.
If we all pay attention to our surroundings and community, no need for gaurdian angels. Just another example of having someone else do the real work