Strong-arm Robbery On University Has Police Searching For 3 Males

PALO ALTO, CA -- Police are searching for three men at large who allegedly robbed a man on University Avenue near the transit station last night.

During the encounter called in at 6:30 p.m., they tried to kick the victim before running away and are at large.

The investigation revealed the male victim in his 30s had been walking east on the major thoroughfare towards the transit station, when he noticed he was being followed by three young men. The victim stopped to check his email on his phone and let them pass. When he looked up, the three suspects were blocking the sidewalk.

One of the suspects slapped the victim’s phone out of his hand, while another attempted to assault him. His phone was grabbed off the ground by one of the suspects, then the trio ran up the pedestrian ramp towards the northbound train platform. The victim ran after the suspects and searched inside a waiting train but did not locate them.

The suspects are being described as black juveniles about 16- 18-years old. The victim said one stood about 5 feet, 10 inches with a thin build. He had short black hair and was wearing a black shirt and grey pants. The second suspect was defined at standing 5 feet, 7 inches tall wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up and dark baggy pants. The victim could not further describe the third suspect other than to say he stood about 5 feet, 7 inches

Detectives investigating the strong-arm robbery believe this case has no connection to the one reported on Nov. 23 from the bike path near the railroad tracks close to Churchill Avenue and the University Avenue transit station. That case is still under investigation, and no suspects have been identified.

Anyone with information about this incident 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 voicemail 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.

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