Gunman Targets Westside JOggers Alone At Night

LOS ANGELES, CA — An armed robber is targeting people walking or jogging alone on LA's westside, the Los Angeles Police Department warned Thursday. Over the course of several robberies over the last month, the man has repeatedly fired his gun.

Each of the robberies occured between 8 p.m and midnight. The suspect, drove a gray truck and robbed women and men at gunpoint, mostly taking cell phones, according to the LAPD. The robberies occured in Mar Vista, West Adams, Picfair Village, Westchester, Mid-Wilshire, Carthay Circle, Beverly Grove, Fairfax, Crestview, Faircrest Heights, and Palms.

Police are asking residents to take extra precautions including:

• Always be alert to your surroundings and the people around you;
• Try to stay in well-lit areas;
• Don't walk alone at night and always avoid areas where there are few people;
• Be careful when people stop you for directions, always reply from a distance, and never get too close to the car;
• If you feel you're being followed, walk to a well-populated area;
• Don't resist. Give up your property, don't give up your life;
• Report the crime to the police, try to describe the attacker accurately.

A detailed description of the suspect was not disclosed. Authorities believe he is a man in his 20s.

Anyone with information regarding these robberies was urged to contact the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division detectives Marsden or Matsuda at 213- 486-6840.

Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Correction: Due to a reporting error, an earlier version of this story misstated that the victims were women. In fact both men and women have been targeted.