Police looking for man who attempted to rob pedestrian

200 Leland Avenue in Palo Alto.

By the Daily Post staff

Palo Alto police today are looking for the man who tried to rob a pedestrian in the 200 block of Leland Avenue.

Police call it an attempted strong-arm robbery because the man only attempted to use physical force, not a weapon.

It happened at 9 o’clock last night (Wednesday, Jan. 23), when a pedestrian in his 30s was walking down the street when a man approached him and demanded his cellphone. The victim refused and the would-be robber took a swing at him, but missed.

The victim ran west on Leland Avenue and the suspect chased after him.

When the victim talked to police, he said that just prior to being accosted by the suspect, the suspect approached somebody else and demanded the iPad they were holding. That person refused to give up the iPad and ran off.

Description

Police said the suspect was described as a bald black man in his 40s, about 6 feet tall, and 200 pounds. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and pants.

Police don’t think this incident is related to a strong-arm robbery on Jan. 14 on University Avenue or one on Nov. 23 that happened on the bike path near Town & Country Village Shopping Center.

If you have information about this incident, call police at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to [email protected] or sent via text or voicemail to (650) 383-8984.