Car alarm chases away would-be robber

-- Greg Risling

COSTA MESA -- A quick-witted Yorba Linda woman used her vehicle’s alarm

to shoo away an armed robber who tried to steal her sport-utility vehicle

Tuesday morning.

The 53-year-old victim was shaken up but wasn’t injured after the robber

crept up behind her and pointed a gun at her back.

Police said the attempted carjacking took place around 9:15 a.m. in front of a Mexican restaurant on the 1200 block of Superior Avenue. The woman

was returning to her 1998 Mercedes-Benz, which was parked near the

restaurant, when the robber approached her from behind.

The man demanded she unlock the door and get in the vehicle, threatening

to hurt her unless she did so. Instead of doing what she was told, the

woman hit the panic button attached to her key chain, setting off the

vehicle’s alarm. The robber turned and calmly walked away, police said.

“I imagine it was the type of vehicle that lured this guy to her,” said

Costa Mesa police Sgt. Don Holford.

The suspected robber is described as Asian, about 5 feet, 2 inches tall

and weighing about 120 pounds. He has a medium build with black hair and

brown eyes and was last seen wearing black clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Costa Mesa Police Department

at (714) 754-5281.