San Mateo Man Robbed and Kidnapped by Woman He Met Online, Police Report
A man was reportedly robbed and kidnapped by a woman he met online, according to the San Mateo Police Department.
The incident took place on Thursday after the victim had been chatting with a woman, later identified as Luciana Romano of San Mateo, on Facebook for two days with the intention of dating.
When the two met in person at a location on Hillsdale Boulevard, authorities say Romano threatened the man as they walked toward his car. She then demanded to be driven to a gas station in San Carlos, where she forced the victim to withdraw money from an ATM.
Romano also made a brief stop at a motel in San Carlos before instructing the victim to drive her back to San Mateo. She fled the scene on foot in the area of 37th Avenue.
The victim contacted the police at 8:12 p.m. and provided them with photos of Romano, leading to her identification.
The next day, San Mateo police located and arrested Romano outside her apartment. She was booked into the county jail on charges of kidnapping and robbery.
