Woman Sexually Assaulted at Beach

A 22-year-old Thousand Oaks woman was sexually assaulted and robbed at knifepoint in a midday attack at a Ventura County beach, authorities said Tuesday.

The woman was sunbathing at La Conchita Beach along the Ventura Freeway at noon Monday when she was approached by a man. He first tried to engage the woman in conversation and then left the area, said Sgt. John Fitzgerald of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department major crimes unit.

Although there were other sunbathers on the beach, no one noticed when the man returned an hour later with a knife and forced the woman to move into a drainage tunnel at the edge of the beach, Fitzgerald said. The man forced her to disrobe and then sexually assaulted her, Fitzgerald said.

The assailant stole the woman’s money and credit cards, then told her to count to 100 before she left the tunnel or he would kill her, the Sheriff’s Department reported.

The woman was treated at Ventura County Medical Center and released, Fitzgerald said.

The Sheriff’s Department described the suspect as a white male 36 to 40 years old, with short brown hair and a thick mustache. He was wearing a white T-shirt and baggy blue jeans. The department is encouraging anyone with information to contact the major crimes unit at 654-2331 or 654-2311.