The robbery occurred in the 500 block of South Rengstorff Avenue at about 4:35 p.m. on Saturday, police said.
The victim, a 57-year-old Mountain View woman, told police she had been walking when a man approached her and ripped her gold necklace from her neck.
She said the suspect then got into the back of a green Nissan Quest and it drove away. Officers stopped the minivan near the intersection of Latham Street and Escuela Avenue, and one person got out of the car and fled on foot.
Officers chased him until they lost him at an apartment complex at 1970 Latham St. During a search of the complex, police spoke with residents who said a man had entered their apartment and locked himself in their bathroom.
A police dog also tracked the suspect to the unit, and officers arrested him. He was identified by police as 18-year-old Antonio Sotelo-Lozano.
The victim's necklace was found inside Sotelo-Lozano's shoe, and the victim identified him as the man who had robbed her, police said.
Sotelo-Lozano is also suspected in a similar robbery that occurred July 30 on Villa Street, police said. In that incident, the thief also ripped a gold necklace from a woman's neck, then fled in a dark gray pickup truck.
Sotelo-Lozano was booked into Santa Clara County Jail for robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and resisting or delaying an officer in the course of his or her duties.
Police also arrested two other people who were found in the minivan when it was pulled over. They were identified as Alexander Avalos and Miguel Zamora, both 19.
Avalos was booked into jail on charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and violating the terms of his probation. He was on probation in Santa Clara County for burglary.
Zamora was booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Police are continuing to investigate the case to determine if the suspects are connected to any other robberies in the area.
They ask anyone with information to call (650) 903-6344. Calls can be anonymous.
