Authorities in Long Beach are investigating an attack on a woman that was captured on home security video.
The attack occurred in broad daylight Thursday in a residential area near East 21st Street and Locust Avenue.
Video from two cameras shows a man carrying some type of rod approaching the woman, who was pushing a stroller, from behind. He strikes her in the head and then runs away, the video shows.
The woman screamed and recoiled but did not appear to lose consciousness. The extent of her injuries was not known.
The child in the stroller did not appear to be harmed.
The assailant was wearing a green sweatshirt with a dark-colored hoodie underneath and a baseball cap. Anyone with information about the attack should contact Long Beach Police at (562) 435-6711.
Angelina Lopez, who lives near the scene of Thursday’s attack, says women are concerned about their safety.
“There was a lady right here…and she had a gold chain on. Somebody just walked right up to her and snatched the chain and took off running, right here in front of the house,” Lopez recalled. “And she had a baby with her too.”
Thursday’s incident was the latest in a series of random attacks on women in Long Beach that has residents and elected officials concerned and searching for solutions.
In October, a woman walking in the 140 block of Linden Avenue was sexually assaulted by a homeless man who approached her from behind, also during the day. The suspect, 30-year-old Miguel Avila, was arrested not far from the scene.
In response to that incident and many others like it, the city of Long Beach Police has announced it is reallocating law enforcement resources and expanding mental health resources.
