Burglar Assaults Elderly Woman in Torrance

An elderly woman was assaulted after a man broke into her home early Friday morning in Torrance, police said.

The burglary was reported around 12:15 a.m. in the 4100 block of Carmen Street, police said.

The man entered the woman's residence through an unlocked window and roamed through the house taking cash, according to the Torrance Police Department.

An altercation ensued between the intruder and the woman. The woman's son told NBC4 that the man held the woman captive for half an hour, and held her down on the bed as he demanded to know where she kept her medications.

Her son told NBC4 that his mother woke up shortly after midnight and the intruder had covered her mouth and pinned her wrists down.

Police said the elderly woman is in her 80s and lived alone.

Neighbors described seeing fire trucks and police cars after the ordeal. The man left the residence with less than $30 in cash and coins.

Neighbors said they were stunned by the break-in.

"This is the nicest neighborhood you could ever be in and then this happened," said neighbor Evelyn Laney. "Oh! I was just dumbfounded."

Laney said she and the vicitm had lived in their homes for 60 years.

The elderly woman was injured and suffered bruises to her arms, but declined to be transported to a hospital.

There was not immediately a description of the attacker.

Ted Chen contributed to this report.