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By Lookout Staff

August 12 – A masked robber who has been entering the Westside residences of elderly victims seems to have struck again in Santa Monica Friday.

The residential burglary took place at around 2:45 a.m. on the 1200 block of Ashland Avenue in Sunset Park, said Sgt. Renaldi Thurston, the Police Department spokesman.

“The elderly victim awoke to the sound of an intruder who was inside her residence,” Thurston said.

“The suspect rummaged through her house and stole several personal items,” he said.

Detectives have not verified how the suspect entered the residence, police said.

The suspect seems to match the description of the man responsible for a string of crimes that include nine other home invasions, two attempted burglaries and one burglary since late May. All the victims have been elderly women.

The suspect – described as an African American male, wearing dark clothing with a dark mask covering his face – last struck in Santa Monica on July 18, when he robbed another elderly women in her Sunset Park home.

In that incident, the suspect made off with several possessions after entering the home on the 2300 block of 22nd Street at around 3:30 a.m., police said.

All the incidents except the most recent before Friday’s -- which took place on Westwood Boulevard on July 29 -- occurred in the early morning hours, according to West Los Angeles police.

In that incident, the suspect approached the 96-year-old victim from behind while she was outside her home on the 2500 block of Westwood Boulevard at around 4 p.m.

He then forced the woman inside and ransacked her home, fleeing with the stolen property.

The victim was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for contusions and released the same day, police said.

The suspect in the string of robberies is described as between 25 and 40 years old. He is 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds.

“Residents are reminded not to leave their windows and doors open during the warm summer months as predators are looking for simple opportunities to commit crimes,” Thurston said.

Anyone with additional information should call the Santa Monica Police Department Detectives at 310.458.8451 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or the Watch Commander at 310.458.8427 (24 hours).

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).