Novato Teen Arrested On Suspicion Of Gang-Motivated Attempted Robbery

NOVATO, CA — A 16-year-old resident of Novato was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of taking part in a gang-motivated attempted group robbery, officials said.

On July 13, just after 8 p.m., Novato police were sent to Fourth Street on a disturbance call, where they located a 16-year-old victim. The teen said he was approached by a group of 10 masked juveniles, who yelled gang-related threats and attempted to rob him of his personal belongings, the Novato Police Department said.

The suspects fled the area before they were able to steal anything from the teen, police said, adding that the victim sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, detectives and the School Resource Officer were able to identify the primary suspect as a 16-year-old who was on Marin County Juvenile Probation. Police say their investigation also revealed the incident was gang-motivated.

On Tuesday, patrol officers and detectives went to the suspect's home and arrested him. Officials said they found evidence of the attempted robbery there.

The teenager, who was not named, was taken into custody of Marin County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of robbery, participating in a street gang and violating his probation terms, police said.

"We encourage parents and guardians to talk to their children about staying aware of their surroundings, avoiding groups engaging in suspicious activity, and reporting anything unusual to a trusted adult or directly to Novato Police by calling 415-897-4361," police wrote on Facebook. "Together, we can keep our community safe."