Couple Robs Man, 63, in His Home

Juan Morales of Oxnard had planned to spend the last few hours of his Christmas quietly watching television until two unwelcome visitors turned it into a holiday he would rather forget.

Morales, 63, was in his home at 309 West Hill St. about 8:30 p.m. Friday when he heard a knock at his door. “I thought it could be friends of mine, so I opened the door slightly to see who was there,” he said.

A man and woman waited outside, and the man claimed to be a narcotics officer, Morales told police. “They said they needed to check for drugs,” Morales said. “I didn’t even have a chance to ask for identification, they forced me into a closet.”

The couple handcuffed Morales to the closet bar, according to police, and took money and property while he was trapped. “I stayed in there for three hours until I was able to break the rod from the closet and get out and call police,” Morales said.

According to reports, the robbers got away with $22 in cash, Morales’ wallet, a $200 watch, a camera and his passport.