Robber steals wheelchair from 85-year-old blind man in Oxnard, police say

OXNARD, Calif. (KABC) -- A home-invasion robber stole a wheelchair and two safes belonging to an 85-year-old blind man in Oxnard, authorities said.

ABC affiliate KEYT in Santa Barbara reports Ventura Fernandez woke up when he heard a man breaking through his window.

Fernandez said he was then punched in the face.

"At first the dog was barking a lot and I kept on telling him to be quiet, but the guy had already come in I guess," Fernandez said. "That's why the dog wouldn't be quiet. Until I felt something in the room and I said, 'Who is it?' And the guy just tells me, 'Give me the key to the safe, give me the key to the safe.'"

Fernandez said the man took his two safes and took his wheelchair to cart the stolen belongings away. He said at one point the robber actually helped him back onto his bed before taking his wheelchair.

"I didn't have nothing, not really a lot of money in the safe. All I had was about $70 in change or something like that, but he did take a $400 watch that was in the safe," he said.

Word of the loss spread and by nightfall a friend brought Fernandez a used wheelchair.

Police said they have some leads but that their investigation was still ongoing.

"We understand the outrage, but at this time we don't have any further details. We are just taking the investigation step-by-step," Sgt. Jeff Long with the Oxnard Police Department said.