Stockton police search for man who assaulted Target shopper

Stockton police are searching for a man who officials said followed a woman to her car in a Target parking lot, hit her in the head and took her cellphone.Police released a surveillance photo Wednesday of the man they believe is responsible.”Right now, we’re in the middle of the holiday shopping season and this person is still at large,” said Joe Silva, a spokesperson for Stockton Police Department. “We’re hoping that if someone recognizes who this suspect is that they’ll do the right thing and get that information to the police department.”Silva said the female victim had left the Target on Pacific Avenue last Tuesday when a person approached her from behind and “tried to flirt with her.” Police said she told the person to leave her alone and got into her vehicle. “When the victim got into her driver’s seat, the suspect ran to her vehicle and kicked the door before she could make sure it was locked. With the door opened, the suspect punched the victim in the face and took her cell phone from her hand before fleeing into the parking lot,” the department explained on its Facebook page.Police said when the victim confronted the suspect, he punched her several more times before taking off on a bicycle. The cellphone, officials said, was dropped and the woman called police. Tips about the case or this suspect can be made to Detective Lambertson at 209-937-8494 or Stockton Crime Stoppers Inc. at 209-946-0600. Silva encouraged shoppers to shop with a friend or family member this holiday season, keep phones and wallets out of sight and to get to a safe place and call for help if a suspicious person or vehicle is believed to be nearby. Silva said the 22-year-old victim did not need medical treatment.

Stockton police are searching for a man who officials said followed a woman to her car in a Target parking lot, hit her in the head and took her cellphone.

Police released a surveillance photo Wednesday of the man they believe is responsible.

“Right now, we’re in the middle of the holiday shopping season and this person is still at large,” said Joe Silva, a spokesperson for Stockton Police Department. “We’re hoping that if someone recognizes who this suspect is that they’ll do the right thing and get that information to the police department.”

Silva said the female victim had left the target on Pacific Avenue last Tuesday when a person approached her from behind and “tried to flirt with her.” Police said she told the person to leave her alone and got into her vehicle.

“When the victim got into her driver’s seat, the suspect ran to her vehicle and kicked the door before she could make sure it was locked. With the door opened, the suspect punched the victim in the face and took her cell phone from her hand before fleeing into the parking lot,” the department explained on its Facebook page.

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Police said when the victim confronted the suspect, he punched her several more times before taking off on a bicycle. The cellphone, officials said, was dropped and the woman called police.

Tips about the case or this suspect can be made to Detective Lambertson at 209-937-8494 or Stockton Crime Stoppers Inc. at 209-946-0600.

Silva encouraged shoppers to shop with a friend or family member this holiday season, keep phones and wallets out of sight and to get to a safe place and call for help if a suspicious person or vehicle is believed to be nearby.

Silva said the 22-year-old victim did not need medical treatment.

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