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A 17-year-old girl from Danville was pushed to the ground and her purse grabbed by one of three assailants Saturday night outside Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Shopping Center, police said.
The girl was walking from her parked car in the lot near PF Chang’s restaurant and heading toward the mall with several friends when she was suddenly approached by three men in a silver SUV, according to Pleasanton police Lt. Jeff Bretzing.
The men got out of their car and tried to talk to the girls, but when the girls kept walking, one of the men rushed the 17-year-old girl and grabbed her purse, Bretzing said.
When she attempted to wrestle her purse away, the man punched her once in the face, pushed her to the ground and stole the purse, according to Bretzing. The three men then got back into their vehicle and sped away toward Stoneridge Mall Road.
The girl, whose name was not released, suffered minor injuries from the struggle but required no medical aid, according to the lieutenant.
One witness reported seeing one of the men holding a long black stick or piece of metal. Bretzing said it is unknown what the item was, adding that it was not used or brandished during the robbery.
The suspects are described as three black males, 18-25 years old, medium build and wearing dark-colored hoodie sweatshirts. They were driving an older, silver Honda Pilot, but its license plate isn’t known.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Pleasanton Police Department at 931-5100.
I’m so sorry this happened to the girl and her friends. I’m happy to hear there was no serious injury. Note to everyone: your purse isn’t worth your life! Just hand your purse over if someone is trying to take it. It and the contents are replaceable, YOURSELF ARE NOT!!
No surprise on the description of the perps. Why are young black males so prone to violent crime?
It is attitudes like Tom’s (above) that demonstrate why racism continues to plague this country (and Danville).
I hope the cops catch these scumbag cowards.
Tom asked a legitimate question, why the fuss? It is a fact that young blacks commit most of our violent crime. It is not rocket science. The question is “why”. And don’t blame Bush.
This is pretty commonplace at Gun Valley Mall in Concord. Now Pleasanton? Sad.
Resident 1 –
It is NOT a fact that “young blacks commit most of our violent crime.”
In 2012-13 (the most recent year for FBI violent crime statistics), non-hispanic whites committed 42.9% of violent crimes and blacks committed 22.4%.
What is a fact is that repeating biased and false statements like yours perpetuates racist stereotypes in our society.
Really Dave. I think you forgot to take statistics or are simply ignoring the facts. On a % of population basis, blacks commit far more crimes than any other ethnic group. Blacks in 2014 were 13.2% of the US population in 2014. Yet per your stat, they committed 22.4% of all crimes across all ethnicities.
Those are FACTS. Do I need to explain further or do you get it?
The article is about robbery. Let’s stay on topic.
According to the FBI, Blacks commit 55.6% of all robberies. See table 43A. https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-43
The vast majority of African Americans are peaceful law abiding citizens.
Most robberies are committed by males aged 14 – 35, but the vast majority of males in this age group are not committing robbery.
Only a small percentage of people are committing robberies, less than 1% of the population.
We shouldn’t stereotype.
Race is not the cause of crime, but rather the breakdown of the traditional family unit. In some cultures, there is a significantly higher percentage of children growing up without a father. The moms are doing a valiant job in trying to raise children without a father, but there is only so much one parent can do. As a country, if we want our crime statistics to drop, we need to get away from the politically correct notion that it is acceptable to have children out of wedlock, and start sending the message that a child deserves both a mom and a dad.
So, to answer Tom’s question, it is the breakdown of the traditional family unit that leads to some cultures having a much higher rate of crime per population. We need to encourage men in some cultures to stick around, to be a loving and active father to the children they bring into this world, and an example for their chldren of a law abiding and good citizen and person.
Herman Glates – using statistics to prove facts is not “stereotyping” so I’m not sure how you make that nonsensical leap.
American – “encourage men in some cultures to stick around” – that horse left the barn a LONG time ago. What, you gonna sit down and talk with them?
My comment is not addressed to you. It is addressed to Tom who asks, Why are young black males so prone to violent crime?
Young African American males are NOT prone to violent crime. Only a small fraction commit violent crime.
@ Herman,
Young black males are prone to violence as compared to other races based on statistical data compiled by the US government. Do you dispute the data?
I reject your premise that young black males are prone to violence.
Less than 1% of young black males are prone to violence.
@ Herman,
You can reject FBI statistical facts but please provide data to back up your point of view. Violent crime in most of our inner cities is a terrible reality and I very much doubt the black community leaders would agree that this is a small problem. In fact they organize marches to plea with young black males to stop the violence. Why do you think this is not a problem? Stats for you to consider. Look at the murder rate.
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/43tabledatadecoverviewpdf
I never said violent crime isn’t a problem. And I do not reject FBI data. I cited it. Re-read my post. I said blacks commit 55.6% of all robberies. If you get robbed, chances are your assailant will likely be black. That’s a fact.
What you said is that young black males are prone to violence.
That is not a fact.
99% of young black males do not commit violent crime. As a group, they are not prone to violence.
Let me explain it in terms that a Fox News viewer can understand.
Most murders are committed with guns. If you get murdered, chances are your assailant will use a gun. That’s a fact.
But 99% of gun owners are law abiding citizens.
Gun owners are not prone to violence.
Get it?
@Herman,
I am not a Foxnews viewer but I dont see what that has to do with anything.
From the liberal blog wikipedia:
According to the US Department of Justice, blacks accounted for 52.5% of homicide offenders from 1980 to 2008, with whites 45.3% and “Other” 2.2%. The offending rate for blacks was almost 8 times higher than whites, and the victim rate 6 times higher. Most homicides were intraracial, with 84% of white victims killed by whites, and 93% of black victims killed by blacks.[35][36][37]
I don’t watch Fox News either. But maybe you should give it a try.
You might like it.
@Herman,
I guess this is what you do when you dont like the data. It is sad as nothing can change if we do not honestly face the problem. The plight of too many african americans is poor compared to other races and I for one do not celebrate that.
I wish to see the longstanding trends change but that cant happen if we refuse to face it.
I agree with Tom and American, however in today’s PC society these comments are seen as fighting words. I do believe that we need to raise our children better and go back to a more traditional family role so that we can have a more peaceful world. That includes eliminating profanity and violence from songs, TV shows, and movies.
Back on topic, I pray for the victims, and thank God that this situation did not turn out worse.
Logician –
That’s not what Resident 1 said, though. He/she said that young blacks commit most of the violent crimes. Not whether they disproportionately commit more based on their percentage in the population.
Maybe you should take a remedial reading course.
Dave, you missed the point entirely with your “perpetuation of racist stereotypes” comment. Game over.
Quite the misnomer, “Logician.”
Totally agree with American on this, his comments were spot on. In most cases I feel the problem has nothing to do with skin pigment, rather it is the environment in which those prone to crime were raised. There are exceptions
of course, case in point the Ernie Scherer murder, however those raised in poverty laden broken homes with no Father figure to guide them as role models is a contributing factor. Not taking anything away from single Moms as I write this however.
@ JRM,
I agree but there is clearly a relationship between black males and:
Poor graduation rates/test scores
Crime
Out of wedlock child birth
unemployment
Until we are willing to openly discuss what decades of data is telling us nothing will change.
Tom, you’re correct on all counts. unfortunately, the mere act of discussing this clearly incites people like Dave to namecalling and anger so I’m afraid you’re right – nothing will change.
I suspect that neither of you has an interest in having an honest discussion of the full range of the causes of poverty, etc. in black neighborhoods, because that would involve doing more than simply moralizing and would involve actively looking at structural racism in our society.
But, feel free to let me know if you are more open-minded about the subject than your comments would indicate.
Sure Dave…please share your credentials to discuss such…what is your professional background…I am curious. You seem to have significant emotional investments in these issues. May I ask what is your profession?
@ Dave
It seems (correct me if I am wrong) that you place the blame of the plight of African Americans on racism.
That must mean the following institutions are racist to the core:
The Public School System
The Police
The Courts
These are all government entities therefor our government is racist.
I am fine to have a comprehensive discussion but every time someone calls for this we are only allowed to discuss racism against blacks. I agree there are factors that include racism but do not think that is close to the largest portion of root cause.
Fine, Tom. Why don’t you start with your thoughts on what “the largest potion of the root cause” is. I would be curious to hear how you understand the problem.
By the way, when I said “structural racism,” I was talking about much more than government entities, although that is part of it. So is the legacy of historical racism.
Again Dave….you avoid my question. It seems your opinions reflect someone who has not had a regular interaction with the diverse ethnic populations that is part of the California fabric. Have you had regular interaction with people of different cultures as you all endeavored to wrap up a project together ? Not pinning you down but what profession did you used to work in ?
Perhaps a better question to ask (instead of getting into whatever racial links do or don’t exist in this incident) is why the enormous parking lot that surrounds Stoneridge seems – at least by my observations – to have so little video camera coverage. Sun Valley Mall may be a bit more downscale, but I believe the landlords at Stoneridge get a pretty penny for rent. I for one think they can provide better security.
I don’t like it when my wife goes there in the evening, but she mostly parks near the back/lower floor of Sears where the car can be close to the entrance. At Christmas time, one often needs to park way out in the lot, making any lone female, or even a guy, quite vulnerable at night.
I wouldn’t be critical if this were just the first or second crime there, but it wasn’t.
JRM –
You make a lot of assumptions.
Not sure why you are so curious about my background.
You might start by reading “The New Jim Crow,” by Michelle Alexander.