TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — Police are looking for a suspect who allegedly held a 71-year-old woman against her will and stole money from her purse.
The alleged incident occurred on July 19 around 10 a.m.
The victim was reportedly exiting an Albertsons at 21035 Hawthorne Boulevard when she was approached by the suspect.
The suspect initially offered to help the elderly woman take groceries to the victim’s car.
Officials said the suspect then asked the victim for $10 “for gas money.”
The suspect then entered the elderly woman’s passenger seat, uninvited, and instructed the elderly woman to take her to a nearby Walmart.
After they arrived at the location, the suspect took $20 more from the victim’s purse. She told the victim she needed it to fix a broken-down vehicle. The suspect also reportedly threatened to “rough up” the victim if she didn’t comply.
The suspect then left the car and fled the area in an unknown direction.
The suspect is described as a black woman in her mid-40s. She is 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 250-300 pounds. She wore prescription glasses, has straight hair. At the time of the alleged crime, she was wearing a blue/gray tank top, black shorts and flip flops. She carried a dark handbag with white handles and corners.
If you know this woman, you’re asked to call the Torrance Police Department at (310) 328-3456
