Crime & Safety

Novato Ballet Dancer Arrested After San Rafael Robbery

Police say Hamilton man used a crowbar as he and another suspect robbed someone sleeping in a car.

A Novato man who listed his occupation as a ballet dancer was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of participating in a strong-armed robbery of a man who was sleeping in his car, according to San Rafael police.

Benjamin Phillip Andre, 21, was arrested by San Rafael police at his home in the Lanham Village section of Hamilton at 8:24 a.m. after being identified by the robbery victim through police department photos, said Margo Rohrbacher, a police spokeswoman.

The incident took place at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday on a southern section of East Francisco Boulevard not far from Home Depot in San Rafael as a man was sleeping in his car. Rohrbacher said two doors of the car were suddenly opened, one on each side the car, and the victim, a 21-year-old man with a Novato address, was jarred awake. One alleged assailant had a crowbar in his hand and the other used a simulated gun, she said.

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A stereo system, a black leather computer case and keys to the vehicle were taken.

“The victim had met Andre before and had his name and phone number,” Rohrbacher said, “and officers were able to track him down and arrest him at his house where he lives with his mother after he was identified by the victim from lineup photos.”

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Andre said he was a ballet dancer when he was booked at 9:09 a.m. Wednesday. He faces possible felony burglary charge and a felony parole violation, and his bail was set at $75,000.

Rohrbacher said the second suspect is still at large. He was identified as a Hispanic man in his early 20s, about 5-foot-10 and 160-170 pounds, wearing a blue banana, a baseball cap tilted sideways and a dark jacket over a shirt with letters in glitter. Anyone with information about this incident is invited to call the San Rafael Police Department at 485-3030.


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