Woman Bites Would-Be Robber in Grossmont Center Parking Lot

A 24-year-old woman took a bite of out crime Wednesday morning when a man attempted to steal her deposit bag as she walked toward the Bank of America branch in Grossmont Center, police said.

“The female victim was carrying her deposit bag, in plain view, under her left arm,” police said in a news release. “The male suspect approached the victim from the west while he pretended to be talking on his cell phone. When the suspect got close to the victim, he reached across her body and grabbed her deposit bag.”

A struggle for the bag ensued, police said, and the victim bit the man on his right arm above his wrist. The woman wasn’t hurt, police said.

“After being bit, the suspect ran away and headed north on Center Street toward the intersection of Grossmont Center Drive. The victim lost sight of the suspect after he ran away,” police said.

Police Capt. Carlos Medero said no weapon was seen in the incident, and the woman—a San Diego resident—was on the way to make a deposit from a business in La Mesa, but not a Grossmont Center business.

After receiving a 911 call about 9:50 a.m., officers began a search for the assailant, but he was not found. No suspect vehicle was seen or heard by any witnesses.

The assailant was described as a thin black male, 5-10 to 5-11, wearing a yellow and black baseball cap, a tank top (unknown color), yellow and black short pants, knee-high white socks and Nike tennis shoes.

Police didn’t known whether the victim’s bite broke the man skin. But she held onto her deposit bag. No photos or video are available at this time, and the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the La Mesa Police Department at  619-667-1400 or the Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line at 888-580-TIPS (sdcrimestoppers.com).

You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.