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Attempted strong-armed robbery at Atherton home

Police arrested one of the alleged robbers

Atherton police credit the town's recently installed license plate readers with helping identify a suspect in an attempted robbery on Feb. 21.

Police have arrested one of two men who allegedly attempted to rob a man in front of his Atherton home last weekend and injured the man's wife after firing a round in her direction, police said Feb. 25.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, around 2:50 p.m., two men in a black sedan attempted to steal the resident's watch at his home on Belleau Avenue after following him from Highway 101, according to a police news bulletin and Police Chief Steve McCulley.

The resident fought back with the aid of his daughters and wife who ran out from the house to help him, police said. During the altercation, one of the suspects pulled out a pistol and fired one round in the direction of the mother. The wife was not struck by the bullet, but had minor injuries from shrapnel as the bullet ricocheted off another surface. The male resident sustained minor injuries to his face as a result of the fight.

According to police, the two suspects then fled in their vehicle headed toward El Camino Real.

Investigators were able to identify the suspects' vehicle through use of the Flock automated license plate readers (ALPRs), which the town installed in 2020. The suspects, who were both on probation, have extensive criminal histories, police said. On Feb. 25, Atherton police officers arrested Tavijar Hollis, a resident of Pittsburg, on suspicion of multiple offenses for his participation in this incident. The second suspect is still at large, McCulley in a Feb. 25 email.

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Since the deployment of the Flock cameras, Atherton officers have recovered several stolen vehicles, arrested a suspect wanted in a felony hit-and-run collision, recovered a car wanted in connection with a serious violent felony, and have arrested several wanted and dangerous felons, police said in the news bulletin.

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Angela Swartz
 
Angela Swartz joined The Almanac in 2018 and covers education and small towns. She has a background covering education, city politics and business. Read more >>

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Attempted strong-armed robbery at Atherton home

Police arrested one of the alleged robbers

Police have arrested one of two men who allegedly attempted to rob a man in front of his Atherton home last weekend and injured the man's wife after firing a round in her direction, police said Feb. 25.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, around 2:50 p.m., two men in a black sedan attempted to steal the resident's watch at his home on Belleau Avenue after following him from Highway 101, according to a police news bulletin and Police Chief Steve McCulley.

The resident fought back with the aid of his daughters and wife who ran out from the house to help him, police said. During the altercation, one of the suspects pulled out a pistol and fired one round in the direction of the mother. The wife was not struck by the bullet, but had minor injuries from shrapnel as the bullet ricocheted off another surface. The male resident sustained minor injuries to his face as a result of the fight.

According to police, the two suspects then fled in their vehicle headed toward El Camino Real.

Investigators were able to identify the suspects' vehicle through use of the Flock automated license plate readers (ALPRs), which the town installed in 2020. The suspects, who were both on probation, have extensive criminal histories, police said. On Feb. 25, Atherton police officers arrested Tavijar Hollis, a resident of Pittsburg, on suspicion of multiple offenses for his participation in this incident. The second suspect is still at large, McCulley in a Feb. 25 email.

Since the deployment of the Flock cameras, Atherton officers have recovered several stolen vehicles, arrested a suspect wanted in a felony hit-and-run collision, recovered a car wanted in connection with a serious violent felony, and have arrested several wanted and dangerous felons, police said in the news bulletin.

Comments

pearl
Registered user
another community
on Feb 26, 2021 at 3:11 pm
pearl, another community
Registered user
on Feb 26, 2021 at 3:11 pm

Thank goodness the victim family is alright. Great to have those Flock cameras installed!


Thoughtful
Registered user
Atherton: other
on Feb 27, 2021 at 7:55 pm
Thoughtful, Atherton: other
Registered user
on Feb 27, 2021 at 7:55 pm

What a horrific incident, and I am glad at least one of the perpetrators has been caught. Following a person to his home and then shooting at his family is about as serious a situation as it gets, and it makes me think California needs to rethink its restrictions on citizens carrying firearms outside their homes. This could have been deadly to the entire family.

Can we get some more information, like was the resident's home gated, and they followed him through the gate when he drove in?

As far as I know, Chief Steve McCulley has the absolute authority under California law to issue concealed carry permits to residents – no county sheriff signoff required – but the question is will he? Had this family not gotten "lucky", it would have been very valuable for the man followed home to have had a firearm in his automobile.

A good example, in my view, of if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.


Angela Swartz, Almanac Staff Writer
Registered user
another community
on Mar 1, 2021 at 5:12 pm
Angela Swartz, Almanac Staff Writer, another community
Registered user
on Mar 1, 2021 at 5:12 pm

Thoughtful, Chief McCulley says the incident took place in the home's driveway and that the home was not gated.


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