PALO ALTO – A pair of 17-year-old boys has been arrested in connection with a strong-arm robbery in Palo Alto, police said.
The robbery was reported at 4:19 p.m. Tuesday on the 600 block of Georgia Avenue, according to the Palo Alto Police Department.
An investigation revealed the victim, a high-school aged boy, had been sitting on a utility box when another boy called his name and punched him several times in the face, police said.
The victim fell off the utility box and dropped his phone. Police said the suspect grabbed the victim’s phone and got into a blue Toyota Corolla that had driven up to their location during the robbery.
An adult passerby witnessed the robbery and ran to help the victim as the car sped away eastbound on Georgia Avenue, police said. He also took pictures of the car and called police.
Police said the victim knew the suspect from prior contacts and interactions.
The victim’s face and head were bruised and scraped in the attack, but he declined medical attention at the scene, police said.
At 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, officers found the Toyota parked in a city parking lot at 642 Gilman St., as well as two 17-year-old boys nearby. The boys were detained without incident.
The victim’s cellphone was found inside the Toyota, police said.
Officers arrested the boys and booked them into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall on felony charges of robbery and conspiracy. Police said the boy who hit the victim lives in East Palo Alto and the boy who drove the getaway car lives in Mountain View.
Anyone with information related to the incident can contact police at 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.
Source: www.mercurynews.com