The 57-year-old woman was struck with an unknown object and mugged at about 8:30 a.m. Jan. 29 near the intersection of Victory Lane and Bean Avenue. She was discovered shortly afterward when police arrived to find her bleeding from the head, without identification and unable to recall what happened. She was taken to a hospital for treatment and released that day.

Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Department Sgt. Mike Barbieri said such incidents aren't common, although a similar one occurred several months ago. Police are still unsure of the details in that case—in which a woman was reportedly ambushed and assaulted but not robbed—because of inconsistencies between accounts told to police.

The recent Saturday morning incident was a reminder to stay alert, Barbieri said, regardless of the time of day. "This was not late in the morning, but it wasn't early in the morning, either," he said. "People have got to be aware of their surroundings."

The woman who was robbed was making her way to The Spa-Los Gatos at 100 S. Santa Cruz Ave., where she had a 9 a.m. appointment. Spa owner Patti Rice said she was alarmed to hear about the robbery, especially during daylight hours.

"The only time any of [my employees] feel a little uncertain is at night," Rice said. "I've never had any fears for my safety" during the day. She has told her staff to take extra care on the way to and from the spa in light of the incident.

"I'm suggesting that when they leave, they leave in partners, and when it's dark they keep to lit areas with their cell phones out in their hands," she said. "I'm telling them to be aware of their surroundings."

A man used the woman's credit and bank cards at a Santa Clara convenience store within 30 minutes of the robbery. He is described as a white male in his early 20s who was wearing a blue plaid jacket and a baseball cap. He was driving a green Jeep Grand Cherokee with gray trim.

Anyone with additional information about the robbery is asked to contact police officer Kathy Missimer at 408.354.8600.