PALO ALTO – Authorities are searching for two men who broke into a vehicle last week in Palo Alto and threatened to stab a person who intervened.

The incident was reported at about 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 in the parking garage at 520 Webster St., the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news release Wednesday. The men were gone by the time officers arrived.

Police said an investigation revealed the victim, a man in his 40s, was driving on the second floor of the garage when he saw a pair of “suspicious” men. The victim parked on the third floor and walked down to the second floor to see what they were doing.

The victim head the sound of breaking glass and saw the men standing next to a gray 2007 Toyota Tacoma with a shattered window, police said. The men noticed the victim and took off running.

Police said the victim chased after the men and tackled one to the ground. The two then fought for about a minute.

During the fight, the victim’s pocketknife fell off his belt and landed on the ground. The second man, who had stopped to watch the fight, picked up the knife, held it close to the victim’s face and threatened to stab him if he didn’t his partner go, police said.

The victim relented and both men ran into the alleyway toward University Avenue.

Police said the victim suffered minor injuries during the fight but declined medical attention at the scene.

The men made off with the victim’s knife but dropped a bag they had taken from the Toyota, police said. The bag, which contained about $300 worth of personal property, was returned to its owner.

The victim described the men as Latino and between 20 and 30 years old. The man he tackled was about 5 feet 10 inches tall and had a heavy build; the man who brandished the knife was about 5 feet 6 inches tall and had a thin build, police said. They were last seen wearing black hooded sweatshirts, black pants and face coverings.

Police urged anyone who witnesses a property crime to call police, keep the suspects under observation from a safe distance and provide a description to help officers arrest them.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.