Worker Stabbed During Parking Lot Robbery

A man suffered minor stab wounds during a parking lot robbery in the industrial area of Whipple Road late Monday night, police said.

According to Lt. Ben Horner, the victim was a maintenance worker who was cleaning the parking lot of a company located on Whipple Road near Genisis Logistics and the western end of the Union City Kaiser Permanente lot.

The incident occurred around midnight when the victim was attacked by a man wearing dirty clothes. The man punched the victim and, as the victim attempted to break free, stabbed him in the back, Horner said.

The victim fell to the ground and the suspect rummaged through his pockets, stealing the man’s cell phone before the victim managed to roll under a truck and escape. He ran to the nearby hospital building, where he alerted police, Horner said.

The man's wounds were not life-threatening and he has been released from the hospital, Horner said.

The suspect fled on foot and had disappeared into the surrounding industrial area by the time officers arrived, police said. 

The victim only caught a glimpse of his attacker before his glasses were knocked off, but described the robber as a black male with a medium build, about 6 foot 3 inches, wearing a soiled white long-sleeved shirt and soiled blue jeans, and reeking of marijuana, according to Horner. 

Police believe the robbert may be a homeless man who stays in the area. A number of homeless individuals live along the nearby railroad tracks, according to Horner.

Monday’s stabbing was a rare occurrence for the industrial district, which lies near the Hayward border.

“[Crime] is pretty unusual in that area,” Horner said.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact Union City police at 510-471-1365. Anonymous tips can be left at 510-675-5207 or by e-mailing tips@unioncity.org.

*The article was updated 10:10 a.m., Sept. 1 to note the corrected location of the incident. We originally reported that the crime occurred in the Kaiser parking lot. The crime actually took place in a nearby lot.