Police investigate robbery of an elderly woman in Santa Monica
The suspect may be the same man wanted in a connection with a string of Westside home invasions.
Santa Monica police said this morning that they are investigating a home invasion robbery that may have been committed by a man wanted in connection with more than a dozen similar break-ins at the homes of elderly women on the Westside.
Police responding to reports of a robbery at a home in the 1200 block of Ashland Avenue at 2:45 a.m. Friday found an elderly woman who claimed she was awoken by an intruder, said Santa Monica Police Sgt. Reynaldi Thruston. The elderly resident, a woman in her 70s, told investigators the intruder stole jewelry and other valuables before fleeing, Thruston said. The woman was not injured during the robbery, he said.
No arrests had been made this morning, Thruston said. Police said the male suspect was wearing a mask and dark clothing but did not say whether he was armed or how he gained entry to the house.
The suspect's description fits that of a man wanted in connection with about 14 Westside break-ins at the homes of elderly women since May, including two in Culver City and one in Santa Monica, investigators said. That suspect was described by several victims as an African American man, 25 to 40 years old, 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, usually wearing dark clothing, dark-colored gloves and a ski mask.
"We're looking at all aspects of this. These are elderly women, so there may be a connection there," Thruston said of the Santa Monica cases.
Los Angeles Police Officer Sara Faden said investigators are working with Santa Monica and Culver City detectives to determine whether the cases are connected.
"We are sharing information. We will compare notes and find out if this is indeed the same suspect," Faden said.
molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com
