Chain-snatch robbery suspect arrested

The suspect, identified as Lawrence Carter, targeted older women of East Indian and Asian descent, police said

A 21-year-old San Jose man has been arrested in connection with at least seven chainsnatch robberies targeting older women of East Indian and Asian descent in the South Bay, and detectives said they believe there may be additional victims.

Lawrence Carter was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose Thursday on felony charges including robbery, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon.

San Jose police Sgt. Enrique Garcia said the robberies occurred between July and September. The suspect grabbed necklaces from the necks of his victims and in one case used a gun to get what he wanted.

“He was preying on innocent, defenseless senior citizens,” Garcia said.

A receipt dropped at the scene of one of the robberies led detectives to Carter, Garcia said.

Footage of that robbery, which occurred the morning of Sept. 29 on the 1900 block of Brahms Court, shows a man jumping out of the driver’s side door of a gray 2006 Nissan Pathfinder as an 85-year-old woman and her 65-yearold daughter walk on a nearby sidewalk.

The man, identified as Carter, runs up to the pair, appears to grab a necklace from the 65-year-old’s neck and pushes her to the ground.

Carter runs back to the Nissan but returns to where the women are to pick up an object. That object, Garcia said, was Carter’s wallet and presumably the source of the incriminating receipt.

Garcia said detectives believe Carter may be responsible for additional robberies in San Jose and other Bay Area cities. He encouraged victims to contact San Jose police Detective Katie Reyes at 408-277-4166. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call 408-947-7867.

“It’s going to help put one more nail in the coffin for this guy to do more time,” he said.

Carter has a criminal record and was arrested in 2014 after authorities linked him and three others to a yearlong string of chain-snatch robberies targeting dozens of women of South Asian descent in the South Bay.

To view footage of the Sept. 29 robbery, visit https://tinyurl.com/chainsnatch