Orinda Senior Mugged in Broad Daylight

    A woman in her 80s was mugged on a path from Orinda Village to BART on Feb. 5, and suffered serious injuries as a result.
    The victim’s name was withheld by Orinda Police Chief Anthony Rossi due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
    “We did have a robbery of an elderly member of the Orinda Community,” confirmed Rossi. “They are currently recovering at home after being seen at the hospital for their injuries. The case is currently active, so I am limited at this time to share information.” At the time of reporting, Rossi said police reports were not available.
    “The suspect was apprehended within a short time by Orinda detectives in Walnut Creek,” he said. “A witness did assist the victim and help Orinda [police] with the investigation.”
    Information about the good Samaritan who helped the victim is also not available.
    “[I] can’t give you the witness information,” said Rossi. “[The] time of day was mid-day. Police reports are not available until the investigations are completed, then a PRA (Public Records Act) request is submitted to the Sheriff’s Office.”
    The victim’s daughter said her mother was told not to speak publicly about the incident.
    “Thanks for reaching out,” said the daughter (name withheld by The Orinda News). “It is my mom who was assaulted. She was told by the detective to not talk about the case, so I do not think she will be able to do an interview.”
    At this point, the suspect is known to be underaged.
    “Unfortunately, we cannot disclose any details of this case per WIC 827 (Welfare and Institutions Code), because the defendant is a minor,” said Contra Costa District Attorney’s Public Information Officer, Ted Asregadoo.
    Rossi said this is not a common crime in Orinda.
    “We have a very safe city and this type of incident is extremely rare,” he said. “For safety tips for our elderly community, I suggest remaining vigilant while walking, driving or riding their bicycles in town. Be aware of your surroundings and secure all items of value.”
    Rossi added, “Again, this was a rare incident for our community, and I applaud my officers for their quick response and dedication to serving that resulted in the capture of this suspect and care given to the victim.”