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PALO ALTO – A 19-year-old Sacramento man and a 17-year-old boy were arrested over the weekend on suspicion of robbing mail carriers in Palo Alto and Belmont, according to authorities.
The first robbery happened around 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the 700 block of Old County Road in Belmont, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news release. No weapons were used, but the victim – a woman in her 40s – suffered minor injuries.
The second robbery happened 45 minutes later in the 800 block of Ilima Court in Palo Alto. This time the robbers pointed what appeared to be gun at the victim – a man in his 60s – and grabbed his postal keys, according to police. He was not harmed.
Witnesses reported the second robbery to police. The robbers and their car – a black 2013 Infiniti G37 – matched descriptions shared by Belmont police, police said.
Officers found the Infiniti driving northbound on El Camino Real from Matadero Avenue. The car sped away from them but crashed into a tree in the 3100 block of Hansen Way, according to police.
The occupants ran from the car, police said, adding that they were arrested nearby a short time later. Both were treated at the scene for minor injuries they suffered in the collision.
Officers searched the Infiniti, which had been reported stolen on May 1 in Alameda, and found two sets of postal keys, according to police. In addition, officers found a pair of realistic-looking replica handguns – one inside the car and one on the ground outside the car.
Police said the 19-year-old man was booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, committing a felony while out on bail for multiple firearms-related violations, and resisting arrest.
The 17-year-old boy was booked into county juvenile hall on the same charges, as well as vehicle theft and evading.
Detectives in Palo Alto are investigating whether the duo robbed another mail carrier in December. That case remains unsolved.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-329-2413; those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.