Police Warn of South Bay Prowler Targeting Women

TORRANCE, CA - Police in Torrance Monday warned residents of two late- night prowling incidents reported in the city within the past three weeks.

Both incidents occurred between 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

On Oct. 6, a woman was returning to her home in the 4500 block of Newton Street and was getting her luggage from the trunk of her car when she noticed a man walking toward her house, according to Torrance police.

She wheeled the luggage up her driveway and was entering her home when she noticed the man had crossed the street and appeared to be watching her.

"After entering her residence, she looked out one of her windows and observed the subject walk up the driveway and crouch between two vehicles, as if trying to conceal himself," according to a police statement. "The resident activated her car alarm and the male walked quickly down the driveway, west on Newton and out of sight."

The second incident occurred after a mother and daughter arrived home in the 4600 block of Greenmeadows Avenue on Oct. 17.

When the woman looked out her bedroom window, she saw a man walking across her front lawn and up the driveway toward her.

"The subject stood in front of the window and peered inside before the mother yelled at him to go away," police said. "He slowly walked away westbound and out of sight."

The man was described as black, 35-40 years old, 6 feet tall and 190 pounds, with an athletic build, a buzzed or shaved head, light complexion and round face with a short beard. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark sweatpants with the word "Navy" printed vertically along the outside of the right pant leg.

Anyone with information about the suspect was urged to call Torrance police at (310) 328-3456.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock