A Long Beach woman woke up to a burglar in her bedroom who made lewd remarks and bolted, and police are seeking public help in identifying him.
UPDATED AT 4:20 P.M.: While police have not ruled out a connection between this man and a series of unsolved sexual assaults in Belmont Shore and Belmont Heights, they do not think there is a link because of the different ways in which the crimes were committed, said Lisa Massacani of Long Beach Police Department. (See the accompanying composite sketches of the suspect in Friday's incident and the suspect in the sexual assaults.)
In the latest, the woman was sleeping in her home near Seventh Street and Temple Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Friday (July 20, 2012) when she awoke to an intruder standing over her, said Lisa Massacani, spokeswoman for the Long Beach Police Department.
The man made lewd comments to the victim, then fled. He was described by the victim as Hispanic, in his 40s, 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-6 and 160 to 170 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a mustache.
In the 2010 investigation, which included 2009 cases, the suspect was described in our Patch story of Dec. 2010:
In each case, the suspect entered an open window. He confronted the women while they were showering, and assaulted them in another room. Police are still investigating a link between those attacks and one at about 2 a.m. on Nov. 8, near Ximeno and Fourth Street.
Climbing in through an unlocked window, a man tried to assault a woman in her home, but she fought back and he fled. The main description of the man was that he had a slight to medium build and wore dark clothes.
The suspect in the prior attacks (composite) is described as male and Latino, of average build with short black hair, green/hazel eyes, long lashes and a small, pockmark-type scar above his right eye. He may have changed his hair or shaved his heavy beard and moustache, the flier notes. (See accompanying drawing.)
Friday, authorities urged anyone with information about his identity or whereabouts to contact Long Beach Police Sex Crimes Detective Louie Galvan at (562) 570-7368.
"The Long Beach Police Department would like to encourage residents to practice the following safety tips:
- Keep your doors and windows secured at all times.
- Purchase devices for your windows that will allow adequate ventilation without jeopardizing your safety.
- Install security lights with motion sensors outside your home.
- Prevent hiding locations by keeping bushes and shrubbery trimmed.
- Know your escape routes.
- Immediately report any suspicious activity or persons by calling 9-1-1 regardless of how insignificant you may feel it is and let police determine its importance.
Again, authorities urge anyone with information about the suspect or suspicious behavior in that area last Friday night to contact police.
