Backpack with $20K in Cash Stolen from Mentally Handicapped Woman

Fremont police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who stole a backpack containing a large amount of cash from a mentally handicapped woman. 

According to the Fremont Police Department, the incident occurred Monday at about 1:45 p.m. as the 65-year-old victim was having lunch outside of Hong Kong Buffet, located at 41063 Fremont Blvd.

While the victim was eating, the suspect sat down at a nearby table and ordered food. He got up within 10 minutes and paid for his food. As the suspect was leaving, he grabbed the woman’s brown leather backpack that was placed in a chair next to her.

The victim tried to grab her bag, but the suspect knocked her to the floor and fled on foot to a black BMW that was parked on the west side of the nearby Los Dos Amigos Bar.

Police said the bag contained all of the woman’s life possessions and $20,000 in cash.

The backpack was later found near the Alameda Creek in Niles. The cash was missing, police said.

The suspect was described as a Filipino male adult between 18 and 30 years old with a thin build and medium height. He was wearing a brown and tan baseball style hat with a white t-shirt, tight capri-style jeans that were rolled up at the botton and flip flops with white socks. He may have been wearing glasses and was seen smoking a cigarette.

He was seen driving a late model black four-door BMW with chrome rims.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Fremont police at 510-790-6800. Anonymous tips may also be left at www.fremontpolice.org/tip or by texting TIP FREMONTPD to 888777 with your message.