PALO ALTO – The Palo Alto Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for a robbery suspect approaching people parked in their cars and asking for money. “On Friday, November 10, 2017, at about 10:58 p.m., the victim, a woman in her twenties, flagged down a passing police officer,” according to the Palo Alto Police Department.
In a statement to police, a male suspect walked up to the driver’s side window and pointed a gun at the female driver, demanding that she give him money. The robbery occurred near Cowper Street and University Avenue.
The victim was seated in her car with the engine running looking at her cell phone when the suspect approached. During the brief encounter, the victim was able to spot that the suspect was in possession of a silver handgun.
According to police, the suspect was described as a black or Hispanic male of unknown age, with an average build. The suspect did not speak with an accent. The suspect was wearing a red zippered sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head to help hide his identity.
The female driver handed the man her cell phone. He fled the scene. Moments later the victim was able to flag down a patrolling officer to report the robbery. A patrol of the area for the suspect turned up empty.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 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. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through our free mobile app, downloadable at www.bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or www.bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.
