A man suspected of snatching more than 30 purses from Asian American women throughout the Bay Area was arrested Wednesday, San Jose Police said.
Hassani Burleson-Ramsey was arrested in Oakland by the San Jose Police Department’s Robbery Unit and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for multiple counts of felony robbery and misdemeanor vandalism, according to authorities.
Burleson-Ramsey is allegedly responsible for at least eight purse snatch robberies in just San Jose.
In most of the robberies, authorities said two suspects would track victims in shopping center parking lots, block in the victim’s car, smash its windows and steal purses and other personal property.
After their items were stolen, the victims, who are all female members of the AAPI community, would often report fraudulent charges on credit cards, authorities said.
SJPD worked with law enforcement agencies around the Bay Area to link Burleson-Ramsey to more robberies. The Hayward Police Department, Newark Police Department, Union City Police Department, Oakland Police Department and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office all collaborated with SJPD.
Police are still trying to identify the other suspect and are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Estantino of the San José Police Department's Robbery Unit at (408) 277-4166.
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