The suspect always wears a ski mask or bandana, wakes up the victim and demands money and jewelry. Police said the suspect also always enters homes through unlocked doors and window.
"He is a guy who is seeking out houses that are occupied. He's seeking out rather defenseless elderly people, so the potential for this to get much worse is right there because this is a guy who prefers to go into places knowing there's someone home," said L.A. City Councilman Jack Weiss.
Police do not have a composite sketch yet because descriptions of the suspect have been very generic.
Anyone with information is urged to authorities immediately, and residents in West L.A. are urged to be very cautious. Keep doors and windows locked, and if you can, install a burglary alarm.
