Robber targeting elderly women visiting Los Angeles banks

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles police are searching for a violent thief who zeroes in on elderly women at local banks.

In one case, the suspect was caught on surveillance video watching a 67-year-old woman during her transaction at a bank located near Jefferson and Crenshaw boulevards on Oct. 1.

When the woman left the bank, police say the suspect followed her to her home in the 3000 block of 10th Avenue. When she got out of her car, the suspect walked past her and casually greeted her. Then, the suspect quickly turned around, pushed the woman to the ground and forcefully took her purse.

Authorities say the suspect then fled the scene in a 1990s model faded dark blue Nissan Altima.

Detectives are investigating another similar robbery just a few days earlier. That incident happened just a few blocks away, and both victims gave similar accounts and descriptions of the suspect.

The suspect is described as an African American male in his 30s, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing between 250 and 300 pounds with black hair, brown eyes and a full beard. At the time of the Oct. 1 robbery, he was wearing a black shirt, tan shorts, a baseball hat and tennis shoes.

If you have any information about these incidents, you're urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.