San Mateo Police Seek Public's Help Identifying Aggressive Robbery Suspect

The San Mateo Police Department has released a sketch of a man suspected of violently robbing a woman walking her dog in Central Park last week.

The suspect is also believed to be responsible for another aggressive attack, and the police are asking for the public's help identifying the man.

In the Central Park incident, a 24-year-old San Mateo woman was walking her dog through the park when at about 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26 the suspect approached the victim and struck her with an unknown object.

The suspect stole the victim’s purse and fled toward the Japanese Tea Garden. The suspect in that case was described as a dark-skinned male in his 20s, about 5’10 and 160 lbs, wearing a green jacket and a black hat. 

On Thursday, Nov. 28, at about 10:30 p.m., a 40-year-old San Bruno woman was waiting at the bus stop at 9th Avenue and El Camino Real.

She was also approached and struck, and also sustaining a visible but not serious injury.

The suspect was similar to the previous description, dark-skinned and of the same size, wearing a dark jacket and hat. He sole the victim’s purse and fled east on 9th Avenue. He was observed by a witness fleeing south on Palm Avenue from 9th.

In both cases, officers from the San Mateo Police Department searched the area extensively for the suspect and any witnesses, however the suspect has not been located. A sketch of the possible suspect is attached to this article.

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Dave Manion of SMPD Investigations at (650) 522-7654 or dmanion@cityofsanmateo.org.

Safety Measures and Important Tips:

SMPD is coordinating with City of San Mateo Park Rangers and providing increased patrols and other strategies in Central Park - both to provide additional safety and to continue to look for the suspect. Detectives continue to investigate this crime and search for connections to other crimes and suspects.

AS A REMINDER – ALL CITY PARKS IN SAN MATEO CLOSE AT 10PM

SMPD also reminds you that many incidents like these take victims completely by surprise, as opportunistic criminals tend to target people who are obviously distracted by mobile electronics. When walking in public, always be aware of your surroundings, and leave the browsing of your mobile media for when you are located in a safe position to do so.

Although the victim was taken by surprise in this attack, SMPD offers Safety Tips on how to best protect yourself from this type of crime at our Public Safety Blog: http://sanmateopd.org/2013/03/25/theft-prevention-protect-the-property-on-your-person/

Other Important SMPD Phone Numbers:

Anyone with information about Crimes being investigated in the City of San Mateo is encouraged to contact SMPD.

SMPD Investigations Bureau: 522-7650

SMPD Secret Witness hotline:  522-7676

Anonymous Text to SMPD: 262-3473