Palo Alto Attempted Robbery Probed

PALO ALTO, CA — Authorities are asking for the public’s help investigating an attempted strong-arm robbery in Palo Alto early Sunday morning, police said.

The attempted robbery was reported at around 3:45 a.m. at the Palo Alto Transit Center (95 University Ave.), police said.

The victim was not injured.

The suspect is described as a heavyset male adult of unknown age, about 5-foot-10 weighing between 250- and 300-pounds police said. The victim said he was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and a face covering, according to police.

The suspect rode up to the victim on a black bicycle near the bus turnaround and demanded money from the victim, threatening to harm him, police said.

The victim did not comply with the suspect’s demands, suspect then rode away southbound through the Transit Center after the victim yelled for help, police said.

The victim said the same suspect had robbed him previously at another bus stop along Lawrence Expressway about five months ago, police said.

The suspect was armed with a knife and took cash from the victim in the previous incident.

Detectives are investigating a possible link between this case and a Friday incident in which a 16-year-old was pushed off her bicycle during a robbery, police said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the 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.