A quiet dead-end street in the Hollywood Hills turned into a crime scene Thursday night when an elderly woman was strangled during a home invasion, leaving neighbors rattled and a crew of attackers still on the run. Officers responded to the 8500 block of Lookout Mountain Avenue, near Wonderland Elementary School, shortly before 8:30 p.m. The victim, believed to be in her 70s, was taken to a hospital for treatment, and investigators say several assailants remain outstanding.
According to ABC7, detectives say several masked men in black hoodies forced their way into the home, stole cash and jewelry, and then took off in a white Honda Accord. Details are still thin, and the value of what was taken has not been released.
Neighbors described the block as quiet and poorly lit, a combination they fear makes it a soft target for burglars. "It’s a dark street. It’s at the top. Dead-end street. Not many people on it," one neighbor told NBC Los Angeles. The outlet also reported that the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division has taken over the case.
Investigation underway
LAPD detectives have been canvassing the area and pulling surveillance video in an effort to piece together a clear timeline of the attack, according to ABC7. No arrests have been announced, and investigators have not released any suspect details beyond the clothing description and the white Honda Accord used as the getaway car.
Legal consequences
Violent crimes against older adults carry extra weight under California law. Penal Code 368, which defines elder abuse, allows for enhanced prison terms if a defendant causes great bodily injury to an elder. That can include an additional five years in prison if the victim is 70 or older, on top of any sentence for robbery or related charges, according to the California Legislative Information website.
Citywide context
Local outlets have noted a recent rise in high-value break-ins across Los Angeles, and NBC Los Angeles reports that the trend has prompted extra patrols in some neighborhoods. Many of the incidents have been concentrated in the San Fernando Valley and nearby upscale areas.
This latest robbery comes on the heels of a series of brazen heists in affluent corners of the city; Hoodline previously covered a January mansion break-in that drew a large LAPD response in the Hollywood Hills. The investigation into Thursday’s attack remains active, and authorities say they plan to release more information as it becomes available.
