VIDEO: Woman Robbed At Knifepoint By Assailant In Clown Mask

MONTEBELLO (CBSLA.com) - Police Thursday released surveillance video of a man in a clown mask robbing a woman at knifepoint in a Montebello parking structure.

The robbery occurred shortly after 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 at 1620 Neil Armstrong St., according to Montebello police.

The woman, a 22-year-old college student, had just parked her car in her usual spot when the clown-masked suspect, who had been lying in wait, approached from behind, grabbed her and held a small pocket knife to her face and demanded her belongings while threatening to kill her if she did not comply, police said.

The woman handed over her bag, which contained her laptop computer, and the man began to flee, police said.

He stopped as the woman pleaded for the return of her laptop, gave back the computer, but then demanded and took the victim's purse.

"The lap top is useless," her father said. "It was just for school work, so he got nothing off of that."

The man then ran off and fled onto Neil Armstrong Street. The woman was not hurt.

The suspect was described as approximately 20 years old with short hair.

In addition to the clown mask, he was wearing a Dodgers cap, black sweatshirt and blue jeans.

The woman is traumatized, her father said.

"I'm still walking her out to her car," he said.

Anyone with information that could help investigators identify the suspect was urged to call Montebello police Detective Paul Antista at (323) 887-1200, extension 249.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.

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