Thieves Use New Tactic to Get Wallets

San Mateo police are investigating whether two robberies of men on  their bicycles that occurred five minutes apart Monday night are related, a  police captain said Tuesday.
     
The first victim was riding his bicycle through Gateway Park when  five suspects approached him at around 9:50 p.m., according to San Mateo  police Capt. Kevin Raffaelli.

The suspects knocked the victim off his bicycle and stole the  victim's wallet and cell phone before fleeing on foot, Raffaelli said.

About five minutes later, another man was riding his bicycle in  the area of Monte Diablo Avenue and Fremont Street when a single suspect  knocked the victim off his bike and took his wallet, Raffaelli said.

Both victims complained of pain to their shoulders but were  otherwise uninjured.

Authorities believe that the suspect in the second robbery was  also involved in the first robbery, due to the proximity of the incidents and  similar suspect descriptions, according to Raffaelli.

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call  police at (650) 522-7650 or the Secret Witness Line at 650-522-7676.