Long Beach police are hoping for the public help to identify a man suspected of robbing multiple homes and sexually assaulting one of the victims in a senior apartment complex.
Authorities said that, at least four incidents have been reported between Feb. 2nd and Feb. 5th. The robberies occurred between 5:45 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. All of them happened at a senior housing complex near the Atlantic Avenue and Via Carmelitos.
All of the victims involved were women aged between 63 and 95 years. Authorities said that in most of the cases, the suspect would knock on the door, force his way to inside and then physically assault the women before making off with purses, cellphones and cash. In one of the robberies, the victim was walking outside the complex when the man attacked on her.
In the last reported incident, the suspect rang the victim's doorbell, forced his way to the inside and sexually assaulted her before running off with cash. The authorities said that the woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
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Detectives obtained and released the video of the suspect, who is described as being between the age of 25 and 30, between 5 feet 11 inches tall, and thin to medium build.
Authorities said another woman was attacked and suffered non-life-threatening injuries on Thursday morning a little more than two miles away from the senior center in the 3700 block of the Pacific Avenue.
The widowed victim is 90 years old and the authorities said that the attack was similar in nature as well as the suspect description. But it was unclear if this incident is related, the police said.
That woman's neighbor, Jana Brindzik, described the victim as "determined, strong and independent."
Brindzik walked out of her home at about 7:15 a.m. to get her newspaper as the noise from a nearby lawnmower drowned out sound. Minutes later, her elderly neighbor was trying to fend off the attacker and pressed her panic button.
The attacks are so disturbing to residents of the senior center that some are temporarily moving out of the complex.
Starr Jones, whose mother lives in the complex, said on Thursday evening that she was "still taking stuff to my house for her."
Jones said that, "she will not stay here until they actually catch this guy."
Anyone with more information is asked to call the Long Beach Police Department's sex crimes Detective J. Kearns at (562) 570-7368. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
By Mrudula.
