Crime & Safety
Police Increase Patrols in Downtown Palo Alto
Attempted armed robbery leaves some residents jittery.
Police are beefing up patrols in downtown Palo Alto after two armed robbers attempted to rob a group of women walking in the area earlier this week.
Police said dispatchers received a report of an attempted robbery in the 700 block of Emerson Street just before 10 p.m. Wednesday. Officers arrived on the scene but were unable to locate the suspects. According to police, three women were walking together in the area when two men stepped out from a nearby storefront's alcove and approached them.
One of the men pointed a handgun at the women and demanded their property, police said. The three women separated and each ran to nearby open businesses and asking to call police.
The suspects fled the scene and were last seen running south on Emerson Street toward Homer Avenue, police said.
Police said the women described the armed suspect as an Hispanic man in his 20s who is between 5-feet-3 inches and 5-feet-6 inches tall. He reportedly had a medium build and was wearing dark clothing and a covering over his face. The second suspect was described only as a tall male with a blue bandanna covering his face, police said.
Detectives are investigating the incident and looking into any possible connection between this crime and a strong-arm robbery that occurred on Monday night in the 200 block of Hamilton Avenue.
Anyone with information about this crime may contact Palo Alto police at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be sent via email to paloalto@tipnow.org or via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.
Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
