Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
Hold on to your wallets and purses as picketpocketing is on the rise in downtown Walnut Creek. This comes on the heel of the new Broadway Plaza redevelopment which is bringing more people to the downtown area and according to NBC Bay Area, “police are warning the public to be on the lookout for pick-pockets”.
As a former New Yorker I try to be as careful as possible with my wallet when it comes to crowded areas downtown or elsewhere. I haven’t been pickpocketed yet but be careful while over there.
From the Walnut Creek police:
On 7/20/16 at 1444 hours, an elderly female was a victim of a purse snatch robbery attempt. The victim was walking eastbound on Cypress St near Commercial Lane when Suspects #1 and #2 grabbed her purse and attempted to steal it. The victim held on tightly to her purse and was forced to the ground. The suspects then dragged the victim along the sidewalk causing minor injuries. As several citizens rushed to her aid, the suspects let go of the victim’s purse and fled to a nearby vehicle occupied by Suspects #3 and #4. The suspect vehicle was last seen westbound on Mt. Diablo Blvd.
On 7/22/16 at 1242 hours, a suspect matching the description of Suspect #1 entered the patio area of a restaurant on the 1500 block of Mt. Diablo Blvd and stole two purses which were on the ground near where the victims were seated. The suspect then ran to the above suspect vehicle which was parked across the street. The suspect vehicle then jumped the median on Mt. Diablo Blvd and drove westbound in the eastbound lanes before continuing westbound on Mt. Diablo Blvd at the Locust St. intersection.
WCPD believes these two crimes are related and requests anyone who may have witnessed any part of the above incidents to contact Detective Bill Jeha 925-943-3518.
