A Venice woman woke up Monday morning to find an intruder standing at the foot of her bed, police said.
The two had a brief conversation before the man walked into the kitchen and the woman fled to a nearby relative's home, police said. The prowler was reported at about 3:10 a.m. inside a studio apartment at 28th Avenue and Speedway, said Lt. Joseph Sanchez of the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Station.
The woman told police the man appeared to be holding an object, possibly a knife.
Police launched a manhunt in search of the prowler, but he was not found. A man was arrested nearby, but police determined he wasn't involved.
"There were so many helicopters it was like a military invasion. It went on for hours," neighbor Tim Sheridan said.
Police say the intruder got in through a window that was left open in the sweltering heat.
The number of hot prowl burglaries increased over the summer, police said. Most of the intruders have been getting in through open doors and windows left unlocked because many beach homes have no air conditioning.
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Police advise residents to keep their doors and windows locked at night.
