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Crime & Safety

Palo Alto Police Arrest Robbery Suspect

San Jose man could be linked to at least two crimes.

A San Jose man is in custody on suspicion that he robbed two people in Palo Alto on separate occasions during the last three months.

Dean Allen Holmes, 23, was arrested Jan. 19 on charges that he robbed a woman on Dec. 11, 2010, in front of her home on the 900 block of El Cajon Way and that he also held up a pizza delivery man at gunpoint Jan. 10 on the 4000 block of Ben Lomond Drive, according to police. 

Palo Alto detectives tracked down Holmes through an extensive investigation and a parole search, which eventually led to his home and an iPod he allegedly bought with a stolen credit card, according to police. The male victim later identified Holmes during a police line-up, according to police.

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Holmes faces two robbery charges and a count each of burglary, using a stolen credit card and also a parole violation. Police announced his arrest Tuesday evening.

In the first robbery on El Cajon Way, Holmes allegedly approached the woman from behind after she parked in her driveway at around 7:04 p.m. As she was walking toward her front door, he allegedly grabbed her, took her purse and then fled. 

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Holmes also allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint on Ben Lomond Drive at approximately 9:15 p.m. after he delivered a pizza and was returning to his car. The man was not injured during the alleged crime.

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