Arrests made in attempted carjackings

Authorities on Thursday arrested a 24-yearold man in connection with a pair of attempted carjackings in San Mateo.

Around 6:45 a.m., officers learned about a carjacking in South San Francisco and then found the victim's vehicle, a 2018 Nissan Sentra, parked in front of a home in the 100 block of North Idaho Street, the San Mateo Police Department said in a statement.

A man told an officer at the scene he had tried to stop another man from taking his Toyota Highlander, which was left unlocked near the Nissan. Police said the suspect punched the victim once in the chest and ran toward Monte Diablo Avenue.

Officers also found surveillance footage of a man exiting the Nissan and trying to take the Toyota, police said.

As officers fanned out to find the man, they received a report of a second attempted carjacking in the 100 block of North Grant Street, about two blocks west of the first incident.

The victim in the second attempted carjacking told police the suspect had pushed him away from his vehicle as he was opening the door to enter. Police said the suspect got into the vehicle but then got out and ran northbound on North Grant Avenue.

Officers with the South San Francisco Police Department joined the search for the suspect, who was ultimately found at the corner of East Second Avenue and South Idaho Street. Two victims identified him as the man who had tried to carjack them, police said.

Police said the man, a resident of San Mateo, was arrested and booked into San Mateo County jail on charges of attempted carjacking and receiving stolen property.