Palo Alto police responded to the report of a strong-arm robbery on the 3300 block of Middlefield Ave at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
A brown-skinned male in his 20s approached a lone woman from behind, knocked her to the ground, and grabbed her purse, officers said
He ran to Ames Ave, entered a medium-sized white sedan, and drove away northbound on Middlefield Road.
The man was described as either Hispanic or African-American, wearing a black jacket with a gold design, and jeans.
He is 5-foot-7 inches or 5-foot-8 inches tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds, officers said.
He wore a cap, not a baseball cap, with a short brim, and had a gold grill on his teeth.
His vehicle was described as an older, medium-sized white sedan with four doors, possibly with 5 as the first digit on the license plate. No weapon was seen.
Local
Any witnesses are asked to call 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call 650-329-2190.
