Earlier this week, an attempted purse-snatching was thwarted in Palo Alto when an elderly woman triggered her keychain panic alarm. The incident occurred in a parking lot on Middlefield Road. The unidentified suspect, startled by the alarm, fled on foot. The victim's quick thinking highlights the importance of personal preparedness in deterring crime.

As per the Palo Alto Police Department News Release, the suspect described as a white, 18 to 22-year-old male, wore a black face covering, a blue hooded sweatshirt, and damaged blue jeans. The prompt reporting of the victim and her description of the suspect is aiding the local police department in their investigation.