Woman Fights Off Robber in Latest Attack

A Corona del Mar woman who had just returned home from a shopping trip was attacked in her garage by a would-be robber believed to be the same man who robbed and assaulted women in Huntington Harbour, Lido Isle and Dover Shores, police said Friday.

The latest attack occurred about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Newport Beach police Sgt. Steve Shulman. The 40-year-old woman was punched in the face during the struggle.

The woman saw the man in an alley near her home in the 700 block of Narcissus Avenue, police said.

As she closed her garage, the man sprinted inside and attacked her as she got out of her car, Shulman said. The two struggled, he said, and the man fled empty-handed.

The woman was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, where she was treated and released.

Police on Friday released a sketch of the man they believe has committed the four robberies in five weeks.

The attacker is described as being about 30 years old, black, about 5 feet 9 inches, 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. In Wednesday’s attack, he was wearing a black jacket, black pants and a black hat.

The attacks have occurred in upscale neighborhoods during the day. Most of the women have been attacked in their garages.

“We don’t know for sure if they’re being followed or [if the suspect is] waiting for someone to come home,” Shulman said.

An 80-year-old woman suffered a cut on her face when she struggled with an attacker June 11 in the 3000 block of Humboldt Drive in Huntington Harbour, police said.

The unidentified woman was sitting at her vanity when the man, who may have entered through an open side door, blindfolded her and ransacked her home before fleeing with her purse and jewelry, said Huntington Beach police Sgt. Gary Meza.

On June 10, an 85-year-old woman was attacked after she returned from a restaurant about 2 p.m. and pulled into her driveway in the 1300 block of Galaxy Drive in Newport Beach, police said.

When she got out of the car, she was grabbed from behind and shoved to the ground. The assailant beat her with his fists, took her jewelry and fled, Shulman said.

During a May 23 attack, a 56-year-old woman was returning to Lido Isle from a shopping trip and was accosted in her garage in the 200 block of Via Genoa.

The attacker approached her on the driver’s side and demanded her personal property, then struck her on the left side of the head with an unknown object, Shulman said. The victim was hospitalized with head cuts.

Anyone with information is asked to call Newport Beach police at (800) 550-6273.