Rancho Santa Fe woman robbed in village

A local woman was left shaken after being a victim of assault and robbery in the Rancho Santa Fe village on Thursday, April 7. She was attacked as she walked home from an evening out with friends.

“It was quite horrendous,” said the resident, who asked not to be identified. “I’ve lived here for 20 years and I walk around here all of the time, to the post office, to the village, along the golf course with my dogs. I felt so safe up until last Thursday night, I’m crushed.”

Even in a nice and affluent neighborhood like Rancho Santa Fe, she said, people still need to be aware.

“This is such a wake up call,” she said.

The woman had met up with her friends earlier in the night at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe and afterward they had walked to Mille Fleurs restaurant. Around 10 p.m. she decided to walk home and was walking on Paseo Delicias, near Caffe Positano when the attack occurred.

“I saw a flash on my left side and he jumped in front of me,” she said. “I didn’t scream, I was totally freaked out and shocked.”

The man grabbed and scratched her neck as he ripped her diamond necklace off her neck and took her Louis Vuitton bag, which contained her identification material and credit cards. Her necklace was estimated to be valued at $25,000 but was worth even more to her as it was a gift from her husband.

“They’re just possessions,” she said. “What he really took away from me was a little bit of my innocence and my belief that I am safe here.”

The only description she had of the suspect was that he was dressed in a black jacket and pants and appeared to be well-groomed. She believes that she might have seen the man in Mille Fleurs that night and she might have been targeted then.

The resident said the experience was very upsetting but she hopes in her heart that some good will come out of spreading the message of her attack.

“You can’t be too safe anywhere,” she said. “Be aware of your surroundings and make sure somebody walks you to your car or be with somebody because there is safety in numbers.” The resident said she did report the incident to the Sheriff’s Department.