Woman fakes seizure to save herself from robber

SAN FRANCISCO -- A quick-thinking woman saved herself from a robbery in San Francisco by faking a seizure, something she learned by watching TV.

Julie Dragland said she was riding a BART train in San Francisco playing on her phone when suddenly a note landed in her lap.

"I was really scared," she said. "Probably maybe the most scared I've ever been."

The note read, "There are two guns pointed at you now. If you want to live, hand back your wallet and phone now and do not turn around and be discreet."

"I was actually thinking that I was leaving the country today, and I was like, it's going to be such a logistical nightmare," she said.

Too scared to confront the suspect, Dragland decided to fake a seizure. Her plan apparently worked, as other passengers ran over to make sure she was OK, and the suspect got off at the next stop.

Transit police released surveillance photos of a possible suspect.

"Fortunately, the victim had the presence of mind to look at the number of the train car and give that information to our police officer," a police official said. "So with that information, we were able to download the video and review the video."

Dragland said she may have had a television show to thank for her quick thinking.

"It might have been 'Law and Order,'" she said. "I don't know why I did it."