A 21-year-old woman was the victim of a home invasion robbery occurring in a 2-story apartment in the 3800 block Howard Avenue in Los Alamitos on Friday, June 7 at approximately 2 a.m. A second resident in an upstairs bedroom during the attack was unaware her roommate was being victimized in the apartment below and the suspect, in all likelihood, did not know she was in the apartment.
The victim was in her living room watching television as the lone male attacker entered the 2-story first floor apartment through an open bathroom window. The suspect approached the victim from behind and struck her in the head with a blunt object. The strike disoriented her and it is believed she may have lost temporary consciousness. The suspect proceeded to cover the victim’s mouth, and told her not to look at him or move. He demanded money, but the victim said she did not have any. The victim was gagged and her hands were restrained behind her back. The suspect then forced her to lay face down on a couch. Once the victim was immobilized, the suspect rummaged through the apartment and located the victim’s purse, notebook computer and keys in her second floor bedroom.
When the suspect stopped paying attention to the victim, she was able to free her hands from behind her back and escape through the front door of the apartment. She took her cell phone as she ran away and used it to call 911 once she found a safe location. The suspect fled the apartment and did not chase the victim. Los Alamitos police officers arrived to the crime scene within 3-minutes of the victim’s 911 call. An immediate area search was conducted with the assistance of the Cypress and Seal Beach Police Departments.
The suspect as described by the victim is an athletic male white adult, 30 – 40 years old wearing a light colored sweatshirt, light colored beanie and pants. He is approximately 5’-7” to 5’-8”, weighing 170 pounds. The suspect wore glasses and gloves during the crime. The victim was transported and released from the Los Alamitos Medical Center after being treated at the scene by the Orange County Fire Authority. The victim sustained a 4”-5” laceration to her head. There was no attempt to sexually assault the victim and she believes she can identify the suspect.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Detective Dan Brandt of the Los Alamitos Detective Bureau at 562-431-2255, extension 406.