Peninsula Rolex Robbery Suspect Arrested

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — An East Bay man was arrested last week in connection with a Rolex watch robbery in unincorporated San Mateo County, authorities said.

John Louis Downs III, 27 of Oakland, was arrested on suspicion of robbery Oct. 20, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said.

Downs was among two suspects who used a firearm in the Sept. 8 robbery that occurred at around 8:15 p.m. in the 2000 Block of Sharon Road in West Menlo Park, the Sheriff's Office said.

After determining Downs was one of the suspects, detectives learned he was out of custody on bail for a similar case in Contra Costa County, the Sheriff's Office said. He was also determined to be a suspect in crimes in Santa Clara and Fresno counties.

“The investigation indicates Downs followed his victims from large shopping centers and targeted them as they arrived at their residence,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office was among four agencies involved in the Oct. 20 arrested at Downs’ residence in the 5800 block of Adeline Street, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The Fresno Police Department, and the Oakland Police Department and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department were the others.

Anyone with information about the this case or the suspect is asked to contact Detective Antonio Baggetta (650-363-4192/ abaggetta@smcgov.org) or Detective Daniel Chiu (650-363- 4057/dchiu@smcgov.org).