Elderly Woman Raped, Robbed
NORTH HOLLYWOOD — A prowler broke into the home of a sleeping 76-year-old woman Friday, raped her and stole money she had left out, police said.
“The sexual assault was the motive, because it looks like the person entered just with that intent,†said Detective Mike Coffey of the Los Angeles Police Department’s North Hollywood Division. “If anything, the taking of the property might have been an afterthought.â€
The woman, alone in a first-floor apartment in the 5000 block of Tujunga Avenue, was awakened by the rapist about 5:15 a.m., Coffey said. Her screams summoned the building manager and other neighbors, who helped her call authorities, Coffey said.
He added that the man probably entered through a window left open in the heat.
“It’s something that people should be aware of and try to make themselves as secure as possible at night,†Coffey said.
There have been no similar attacks in the area, police said.
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