Palo Alto Coping With Rash Of Robberies
PALO ALTO (KCBS/BCN) - The city of Palo Alto has been struck with the largest crime spree its seen in at least two years.
The most recent robbery in Palo Alto happened Wednesday night, after a woman parked her car on Nelson Drive. A gunman approached and demanded her purse. She handed it over, and was uninjured. It was the 15th robbery in the city since September, making it the worst crime spree since late 2008.
The suspect was described as a tall and thin black man who was wearing a baseball cap, a dark checkered jacket, and dark pants. He may be linked to the other recent robberies in the area, police said.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
"It's a little scary, and a little unsettling because generally when I'm in Palo Alto I feel very safe," said Kristen, a barista at a Palo Alto coffee shop. "Generally, getting to work very early in the morning, like 4 a.m. or 5 a.m., I feel like I want someone to be here, or to know that I can get out of my car and get to work safely. I don't know if I feel that way anymore."
Palo Alto Police are reminding people to be aware of their surroundings, especially when navigating dark and poorly lit areas, and to report suspicious activity to police. They're also looking for a "person of interest" who may have been involved in three of the recent robberies.
Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to contact Palo Alto police at (650) 329-2413, or anonymously by phone or text at (650) 383-8984.
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