Purse Snatching at Cupertino Peet's Closes Hwy. 85 Friday

A robbery that took place at in Cupertino brought Friday afternoon traffic on Hwy. 85 to a halt when police pursued and nabbed five teenage suspects, officials said.

Two females were sitting outside at Peet’s on Stevens Creek Boulevard with their two purses sitting at a table between them. They noticed a male eyeing them suspiciously and pacing. The suspect then ran over to them, snatched their purses and ran to a waiting blue Silverado with four other teens waiting inside, according to Santa Clara County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Jose Cardoza.

While running the suspect dropped one of the purses and the victim’s iPod fell out. The suspect did not stop to pick up any of it. He jumped in the truck, which then sped off in the direction of Hwy. 85.

Deputies received the call at 4:06 p.m. and two officers who were about a mile away quickly ensued chase aided by California Highway Patrol officers, Cardoza said. A helicopter aided in the chase.

A brief pursuit on northbound Hwy. 85 ended when the five male suspects, ages 15 to 17, pulled over under the McClellan Road overpass. Because of the nature of the crime they were forced from their vehicle at gunpoint, Cardoza said.

They were arrested on charges of robbery and conspiracy and are now in custody at juvenile hall.

The second purse was recovered and it’s believed that most of the items were recovered. There were no injuries in the robbery or pursuit.

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