Mystery mugger with note tries to rob woman on SF BART train

Julie Dragland said her rule during a robbery is to hand over the goods and protect her safety.

But the quick-thinking, 32-year-old Oakland resident thought otherwise Saturday when a would-be mugger behind her on a BART train handed her a frightening note that said there were two guns pointed at her.

Instead of coughing up her wallet and phone to the faceless crook, Dragland faked a seizure, attracting the attention of people on the train and sending her mugger scurrying for the nearest exit in San Francisco.

“When I read the note, I started freaking out,” she said in an interview Sunday, detailing her experience. “I did not want to give up my stuff, but I had no idea who was behind me.”

someone just tried to rob me "at gunpoint" on bart. they sat behind me and dropped this note into my lap. pic.twitter.com/R1D9uek7LO — baby jules (@JILD) September 17, 2017 I called the Watch Commander to make sure they were aware. Someone called it in and we have train # so we can pull the footage to ID suspect — alicia trost (@AliciaTrost) September 17, 2017

Dragland posted a picture of the note on social media shortly after the confrontation ended. BART police said they’re searching for a suspect and reviewing security camera footage from the train.

The episode happened as Dragland rode the Dublin-bound train through San Francisco from Daly City to the East Bay. Around 4:50 p.m., a person behind her handed her a note written in red ink on a torn sheet of lined paper.

“There are 2 guns pointed at you now,” the note read. “If you want to live hand back your wallet + phone NOW + do not turn around and be descreet. Do not turn around until after you have left civic center + you will live.”

BART police are searching for a suspect and reviewing security camera footage from the train. BART police are searching for a suspect and reviewing security camera footage from the train. Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 44 Caption Close Mystery mugger with note tries to rob woman on SF BART train 1 / 44 Back to Gallery

At first she didn’t know what to do. Dragland — who does public relations work for a San Francisco video game company — said she mouthed “help me” to a man standing nearby.

When he got off the train, she realized she would have to improvise.

“I probably looked very ridiculous,” she said. “I slumped sideways and started shaking and crying. I closed my eyes and increased the vigor so people would pay attention.”

A couple nearby came over and asked if she was OK, and Dragland handed them the note. She suspects the culprit got off at the next stop — Civic Center Station. She also thinks her robber was an older woman with a suitcase.

BART police confirmed as much in a log sheet that tracks crimes on its system.

“The victim was not sure who handed her the note, and did not see anyone with a weapon,” police wrote in a summary of the incident.

Officers checked the station but did not find a person matching the description.

Dragland told police she will not press charges if the person is located and said she wants the whole incident behind her.

But regardless of whether she participates in prosecuting the nefarious note-passer, BART officials said they are reviewing the security video on the train, hoping to get footage of a suspect.

Asked how she came up with the idea to fake a seizure, Dragland said, “I think it had something to do with watching a lot of ‘Law & Order.’ I think I saw that in an episode. I was very impressed with myself.”

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky