Two Suspects Charged With Purse Snatching, Hate Crimes

Palo Alto CA

17 September, 2021

5:26 PM

Description

SAN JOSE, CA —Two men were expected to be arraigned Friday in Santa Clara County Superior Court after being charged with dozens of purse snatches and robberies throughout the Bay Area. The suspects also have been charged with hate crime enhancements because many of the victims were Asian women, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said. Derje Banks, 23, and Anthony Robinson, 24, were arrested on Sept. 10 after their alleged involvement in a crime spree that includes more than 40 incidents throughout San Jose, San Pablo, Hayward, East Palo Alto, Newark, San Leandro, Fremont, Campbell, Dublin and Milpitas, authorities said. Officials said the investigation is ongoing, including into additional crimes, and other suspects remain outstanding. The DA's office said that in numerous incidents, victims were pulled or wrestled to the ground during the robberies, and some of the victims were injured. "This dangerous criminal spree was solved thanks to the hard work of the San Jose Police Department," Santa Clara DA Jeff Rosen said. "We will hold these defendants and anyone who worked with them fully accountable for their ignorant and destructive behavior." According to police reports, the alleged crime spree began in late 2020 and included robberies and purse snatches that targeted Asian women. Authorities said the suspects likely targeted these victims because of their belief that Asian women do not keep their money in banks. In some cases, the suspects used ethnic slurs while targeting their victims, authorities said. Many of the incidents, officials said, followed a similar pattern: the defendants followed their victim in a public parking lot, waited until the victim got inside her car, and then smashed the window or quickly opened the door in order to steal the purse off the passenger seat. According to reports, officers attempted to arrest the two suspects after they were discovered inside the same vehicle on Sept. 10. Banks, who was behind the wheel, attempted to drive away and crashed into an unmarked police vehicle. He then tried to flee on foot. Robinson then got into the driver's seat, tried to flee, but crashed into a vehicle, severely injuring a 2-year-old passenger, according to police. Both suspects eventually were apprehended.