NoHo Woman Robbed, Assaulted In Her Own Apartment In Broad Daylight
NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Authorities Sunday continued to search for a woman suspected in a burglary-turned-robbery in North Hollywood.
Los Angeles police say the incident occurred about 9 a.m. on May 8 at the Laurel Canyon Apartments in Valley Village.
The suspect, described by police as a Hispanic female with black hair and brown eyes, allegedly made her way into an unlocked door of Eileen Pasternak's lower-level unit.
"I said, 'What are you doing here? Who are you?' I was so freaked out," Pasternak said. "There's this woman in my dining room with her arms filled with stuff ... my stuff."
Pasternak, who lost one arm in a lion attack three decades ago, says that's when things got physical. But when her attacker recognized her disability, Pasternak says she ran away.
Police say suspect is believed to be between 18 and 20 years old.
She is accused of making off with Pasternak's credit cards and jewelry, including a diamond ring.
Security photos of the woman just released by police were obtained from local businesses where the woman allegedly used Pasternak's credit cards.
"She got herself a manicure and a pedicure. She bought doughnuts. She bought clothes," Pasternak said.
Although her landlord changed her locks, Pasternak says she intends to move as the security door's lock remains broken.
