Burglar Attacks Newbury Park Woman

A burglar attacked a 38-year-old Newbury Park woman in the kitchen of her Ruth Drive home Thursday when she returned to the house and surprised him, authorities said. The burglar then fled in the woman’s car with stolen jewelry.

The traumatized woman was treated at the scene by paramedics but declined to go to a hospital, said Senior Deputy Ed Tumbleson of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. The woman, whose name is being withheld, was hit on the head several times with a blunt object.

A half-hour search of the area with two Sheriff’s Department helicopters produced no sign of the suspect or the car, he said.

Tumbleson said the man is considered dangerous, and added that anyone seeing the dark-green Toyota Avalon with the California license plate 3LZN550 should immediately call police.

“This is a totally innocent victim and this just does not occur very often in our community,” Tumbleson said. “Even though Thousand Oaks is the safest community in the country, we still have crimes occurring out there, and we need to take steps to protect our homes from invasions.”

The burglar--described only as having a crew cut with the sides of his head shaved--entered the house in the 800 block of Ruth Drive by opening a side door with a screwdriver, Tumbleson said.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Det. George Masek at 494-8216.