EL CERRITO — Investigators are hoping that a selfie taken with a cell phone stolen in a violent strong-arm robbery earlier this month will lead to the arrest of the suspect, authorities said Wednesday.

Police released three pictures taken with the stolen phone in hopes of identifying the robber. Investigators on Wednesday afternoon were looking into tips received in the hours after the photos were released but have announced no arrests.

The robbery happened Nov. 5 about 12:42 p.m. on Central Avenue near Clayton Avenue.

A 15-year-old El Cerrito High School student was walking and talking on her cell phone when a vehicle occupied by four males and a female pulled up alongside her, police said.

In a news release, Sgt. Ian Wong said the female got out of the vehicle, confronted the girl and demanded her phone and backpack. When the victim refused the robber punched her in the head, causing her to fall to the ground and lose consciousness, Wong said.

The robber then grabbed the phone from the girl’s hand and dragged her a short distance by her backpack before taking it off and getting back into the vehicle which drove off, Wong said.

The victim had to be hospitalized for her injuries.

Several days later the victim saw that the robber had taken several self portraits, which were uploaded to the victim’s online cloud storage, Wong said. The victim was able to capture the images and saw it was the same person who had robbed her. She then called police and provided the images.

Wong said police believe the victim was targeted at random and there have been no similar robberies.

The robber is described as black, age 19 to 20, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 160 pounds with long braided black hair and a medium complexion. The vehicle the robber fled in is described as possibly a Honda or Toyota and tan in color.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call police at 510-215-4400.

Staff writer David DeBolt contributed to this report.