The Santa Clara Police Department arrested seven people - two adults and five juveniles - for a multi-city assault and robbery spree that occurred between 5:50 p.m. and 11:04 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2018.
At 5:50 p.m., a female victim was walking through the parking lot of the Target store, 2004 El Camino Real in Santa Clara, when the suspects pulled up next to her in a light blue-colored Toyota Rav4. A male suspect stepped out of the Rav4 and attempted to forcibly take the victim’s purse. The victim struggled to hold onto her purse as she fell to the ground. The suspect got back into the Rav4 without the victim’s purse and fled the area. The victim sustained minor injuries.
At 6:04 p.m., an elderly female victim was walking through the parking lot of Safeway, 2760 Homestead Road in Santa Clara, when she was approached by a male suspect, who pushed her to the ground and took her purse. The suspect(s) fled in the previously described Toyota Rav4. The victim sustained minor injuries.
At 6:17 p.m., a female victim was walking in the parking lot of the Safeway, 5146 Stevens Creek Blvd. in San Jose. The suspects were driving through the parking lot when a male suspect got out of the Rav4, approached the victim and punched her in the head. The suspect grabbed the victim’s purse, which was in her shopping cart. The suspect fled in the awaiting Rav4. The victim sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
At 6:40 p.m., the suspects committed an assault with a deadly weapon in the parking lot of Safeway, 2341 S. Winchester Blvd. in Campbell. The suspects confronted a security guard in the parking lot and struck him in the face with the muzzle of a rifle. The victim sustained moderate injuries and was treated at the scene.
At 10:58 p.m., a male victim was walking in the area of Salsbury Drive and Toyon Drive in Santa Clara when he was approached by three suspects who demanded that he give them his wallet. One of the suspects produced a handgun and pointed it at the victim. The victim grabbed the gun and a struggle ensued. The victim was assaulted as he yelled for help. The suspects ran to the awaiting Toyota Rav4 and fled the scene without taking the victim’s wallet. The victim sustained major injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
At 11:04 p.m., a male victim was walking in the area of Newhall and Maria streets in Santa Clara when he was approached by three suspects who pointed a handgun at him. The suspects demanded his property and fled after taking the victim’s cellphone.
At 1:48 a.m. on October 17, a Santa Clara police officer spotted a light blue Toyota Rav4 on southbound San Tomas Expressway at El Camino Real. He immediately recognized this vehicle as the one identified in the above noted crime spree. He attempted to pull the vehicle over, which sped off at a high rate of speed. A pursuit ensued that went into the city of San Jose and eventually ended when the suspect vehicle collided into a guardrail while getting onto northbound Highway 101 from Santa Clara Street. All seven suspects were inside the Rav4 and arrested without incident. The Rav4 was a reported stolen vehicle.
In total, the suspects committed three robberies, three attempted robberies and an assault with a deadly weapon spanning the cities of Santa Clara, San Jose and Campbell.
Anyone who may have witnessed any of these incidents or with information involving these crimes is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Nick Richards at (408) 615- 4814 or Detective Bill Lutz at (408) 615-4820.
All arrestees are residents of San Jose. The arrest information on the juveniles is not being released.
