THOUSAND OAKS : Man Eludes Search After Robbery Try

A knife-wielding man who tried to rob a 15-year-old Thousand Oaks girl escaped Ventura County sheriff’s deputies despite a wide search by a helicopter and police dogs, deputies said Wednesday.

A 35- to 40-year-old man with a military haircut knocked on the girl’s door in the 1700 block of Sweet Briar Place just before 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to a report by Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Boyd.

When she opened the door, the man said he was delivering flowers, for which she had to sign, the report said. When she went to get a pen, the man walked in, forced the girl to the floor and held a knife to her throat, demanding to know where the family’s jewelry was kept, Boyd reported.

But the girl broke free when her 15-year-old sister returned home, and the two girls fled to a neighbor’s house to call police, the report said.

Sheriff’s deputies searched the house and the neighborhood, using a helicopter and three canine units, but were unable to find the man, the report said.