A Redwood City man and woman are facing armed robbery charges after San José police say license plate camera technology helped detectives track down the vehicle used in a July 4 robbery that left two victims struck in the head with a firearm. Jose Hilario, 29, and Alejandra Plancarte, 28, were arrested on October 6 in Redwood City, more than three months after the attack unfolded in a parking lot in the 1100 block of South King Road.
According to the San José Police Media Relations
account, the robbery happened at approximately 8:02 p.m. on July 4, when a male suspect approached two victims near their parked vehicle, brandished a firearm, and forcibly took cash and belongings before striking both victims in the head with the gun. Police say the male suspect fled the scene in a vehicle before officers arrived, while a female suspect operated that vehicle during the robbery.
Camera Network Leads Detectives to Redwood City
SJPD Robbery Unit detectives investigated the case and used automated license plate reader cameras to identify the suspect vehicle, eventually naming Hilario and Plancarte as the two primary suspects and obtaining arrest warrants for both. The department's Real-Time Intelligence Center is housed within the Bureau of Investigations, according to the San Jose Police Department.
That same camera infrastructure assisted the investigation into the Campbell robbery spree, which led to Andrew Fiddler's arrest on July 21, 2026.
Suspects Booked on Armed Robbery Charges
Once detectives had the warrants, the department's Covert Response Unit, a specialized tactical surveillance detail, assisted with locating and arresting Hilario and Plancarte in Redwood City on October 6. Both suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail.
Surveillance Tool Faces Separate Legal Challenges
Surveillance Tool Faces Privacy Scrutiny The plate-reader system that helped crack this case has also drawn civil-liberties scrutiny over privacy concerns.
Police Still Seeking Information
SJPD is asking anyone with additional information about the case to contact Detective Leonard #4913 of the Robbery Unit by phone at 408-277-4166 or by email at [email protected]. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can instead reach out through the P3TIPS mobile app, the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers website, or by calling (408) 947-STOP. The Crime Stoppers program, a non-profit partnership with Bay Area law enforcement agencies, offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that lead to felony arrests.
