Police Seek Man Accused Of Carjacking, Attempted Carjacking In Ventura

VENTURA (CBSLA.com) — A man in his 20s was wanted by police Saturday for allegedly carjacking a woman and attempting to carjack a man last night.

According to the Ventura Police Department, officers were sent around 10:48 p.m. Friday to the 1700 block of South Victoria Avenue for report of an attempted carjacking that occurred in the Ralph's parking lot.

Once on scene, officers determined the suspect approached a 66-year-old Camarillo man as he sat in his vehicle in the parking lot.

The suspect allegedly demanded the victim exit his vehicle and hand over the keys.

Police explained when the victim refused to comply, the suspect brandished a handgun and repeated orders.

The victim proceeded to yell that he was being robbed, and continued to not comply with the suspect, officers said.

In response, the suspect got in the passenger side of an older green Honda Accord that was waiting in the parking lot, and sped out of the area. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle.

Around 11:07 p.m., police received another report of a carjacking that occurred in the 700 block of Empire Avenue.

When officers arrived to the scene, they learned a 55-year-old Ventura woman was approached by a suspect on foot as she exited her vehicle after just parking.

Officers explained the suspect allegedly demanded the victim's keys while placing a handgun in her side.

In fear of her life, the victim complied and handed over her keys. The suspect then fled the area in her vehicle; however, officers did not immediately find the vehicle.

Around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, California Highway Patrol officers located the victim's abandoned car at the intersection of Rice Avenue and Gonzalez Road in Oxnard.

Officers responded to the area, recovered the vehicle and later returned it to the female victim.

Due to similar physical and clothing descriptions of the suspect, police said there is a possibility that the crimes are related given the time frame that the crimes also occurred in.

No injuries were reported in either crime.

Detectives described the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 20s, that was seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

The investigation is ongoing as no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes are urged to contact police at (805) 339-4309.