Former California Sen. Barbara Boxer was assaulted and robbed in Oakland, according to reports

• Former US Sen. Barbara Boxer was assaulted and robbed in Oakland on Monday, according to reports.

• The account for the California Democrat, 80, tweeted that she was not seriously injured.

• The Oakland Police Department confirmed that a strong robbery occurred in the area but declined to identify the victim.

• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Former US Sen. Barbara Boxer, 80, was assaulted and robbed near Jack London Square in Oakland on Monday, according to reports a tweet from her account.

A tweet from her verified account said the former California lawmaker was pushed in the back by an assailant who stole her cell phone and jumped into a waiting car.

"She is thankful that she was not seriously injured," the tweet said.

Boxer served as a US Senator from California from 1993 to 2017. Prior to her time in the Senate, the Democrat served as a California representative in the US House from 1983 to 1993.

An Oakland Police Department spokesperson confirmed to Insider that a strong robbery occurred in the area around 1:15 p.m. local time on Monday, but declined to identify the victim.

The victim was walking in the 300 block of 3rd Street when a suspect approached them and forcefully "took loss" from the victim before fleeing in a waiting vehicle nearby, the spokesperson said.

The Oakland Police Department's Robbery Section is currently investigating the incident and the department is offering up to $2,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest in the case.

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