Updated July 11, 11:06 a.m.
Sentinel staff report–
Citrus Heights police have released a surveillance photo of a suspect who allegedly knocked over and robbed an elderly woman as she was leaving Sprouts grocery store in Citrus Heights.
Investigations Lt. Mike Wells told The Sentinel the incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday outside the Sprouts store at 7905 Greenback Ln., where an elderly woman was “knocked to the ground as she walked in the parking lot and her belongings were taken.”
The lieutenant said police had limited suspect information from witnesses, but surveillance video of the suspect inside the Sprouts was located and subsequently shared on the police department’s social media pages.
“Although we knew the suspect photo wasn’t high quality, we hoped someone might recognize the suspect based on his size, build, and the distinctive ‘M’ logo on his hat,” Wells said in an email. As of Saturday, he said the department had already received several tips based on the photo released and police are “actively following up on them.”
Wells said the woman who was robbed did not sustain any major injuries, but was taken to the hospital with complaints of pain and for precautionary reasons.
The lieutenant said no other robberies of elderly persons occurred in the area and the incident is believed to be an isolated occurrence. However, he said residents are always encouraged to “be alert and vigilant of their surroundings when walking in parking lots, particularly during nighttime hours.”
Anyone with information about the suspect’s identity is asked to call the Citrus Heights Police Department’s tip line at (916) 727-5524 and reference case #18-5575.
*Editor’s note: this story has been updated to include further context from police, stating that no other robberies of elderly persons occurred in the area.
