Woman allegedly tried to stab man with a screwdriver during robbery attempt

A 19-year-old Los Angeles woman was arrested Sunday after allegedly trying to stab a man with a screwdriver as she was ransacking his car, police said.

The man escaped unharmed, but the woman, Ivania Martinez, was taken into custody and booked into the Glendale police jail on suspicion of robbery, burglary and receiving stolen property, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

She was scheduled to appear in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Glendale on Tuesday.

Witnesses reported seeing Martinez rummaging through the man’s truck about 5:26 a.m. as it was parked on a driveway on the 1400 block of East Maple Street, according to Glendale police reports.

When the man confronted her and asked her what she was doing inside his truck, she allegedly said she just wanted “a place to keep warm,” according to police reports.

She then tried to flee, but he grabbed her and a struggle ensued.

At some point during the struggle, Martinez allegedly tried to stab him with a screwdriver, which she told police she kept for protection.

She eventually escaped, but police saw her walking on Maple Street and detained her.

Martinez told police the man “tripped out” on her, and claimed the man allegedly pressed the screwdriver against her chest, according to the incident report.

The Pasadena man later told police his wallet was also stolen from his parked vehicle.

Police found a Best Buy rewards card, a lock with keys and a Lexus of Glendale paper on her, according to police.