Heads up. Be careful out there. In Los Angeles, police are looking for a man suspected of viciously attacking and robbing four women in apartment elevators since November. All of the victims were Korean women.
Police seek elevator robber who targeted four women
The attacks followed a similar pattern and have occurred in different apartment buildings in the Koreatown and East Hollywood areas. In each robbery, the suspect followed the women into an apartment elevator, where he punched them and stole their purses. One victim was sexually battered and punched several times.
The LAPD has posted surveillance video footage of one of the robberies (warning: it's extremely violent):
The robberies took place November 23, December 9, December 23 and December 30, between about 11:00pm and 4:30am police said. All four of the victims were alone at the time of the attack.
On November 9, 2014, around 4:25 a.m., a male Hispanic robbed a female Korean in an apartment elevator located in the 300 block of Alexandria Avenue. The suspect followed the lone female inside the elevator, punched her then took her purse.
On November 23, 2014, around 12:30 a.m., a male Hispanic robbed a female Korean in an apartment elevator located in the 500 block of Hobart Boulevard. The suspect used the same method of operation; he followed the lone female inside the elevator, punched her then took her purse.
On December 23, 2014, around 2:00 a.m., a male Hispanic robbed a female Korean in an apartment elevator located in the 300 block of Alexandria Avenue. The suspect followed the lone female inside the elevator, sexually battered her, punched her numerous times then took her purse.
On December 30, 2014, around 10:50 p.m., a male Hispanic robbed a female Korean in an apartment elevator located in the 400 block of Westmoreland Avenue. The suspect followed the lone female inside the elevator, pressed a sharp object on her neck and attempted to take her purse. When the victim held onto to her handbag, the suspect slammed the victim to the ground, punched and kicked her multiple times then took her purse.
The suspect is described as a 20-30 year-old Hispanic male, standing approximately between 5'6" and 5'8" tall and weighing approximately 130-170 pounds. In addition, he is often seen wearing sweatshirts and shorts.
Anyone with information about the robberies or who recognizes the assailant is asked to contact LAPD's Olympic Division robbery detectives at 213-382-9460. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
More here: Caught on Video: ‘Vicious’ Robber Attacks Lone Women in Koreatown Apartment Elevators