Editor's note: A previous version of this article quoted a post on the Citizen app attributed to Dr. Houman Hemmati, who is identified as the victim's son. Dr. Hemmati is not the victim's son and did not write the post.
November 25, 2024 -- An 80-year-old driver was assaulted and robbed on Franklin Street Friday evening after his assailants' vehicle bumped his car, according to police.
The incident took place at around 7:30 p.m. north of Wilshire Boulevard when the victim exited his vehicle.
Police Department spokesperson Lt. Erika Aklufi said officers have canvassed most of Franklin and detectives are "tracking down several leads."
Detectives are "looking for the suspects who were driving a small, white vehicle, probably a Prius," Aklufi said.
"We believe it would have been following the victim westbound on Wilshire from West LA, then northbound on Franklin Street.
Anyone with video of the vehicle should contact the Police Department through the non-emergency line (310-458-8491).
Aklufi said she is not aware of a tactic referred to as a "bump and rob" being used in Santa Monica, but noted that police have seen some purse-snatching incidents in the parking lots of businesses that use a similar tactic.
A suspect "will approach the driver of a vehicle that has just pulled in and accuse the victim of hitting the suspect’s car," Aklufi said. "It’s a ruse, of course.
"When the confused victim steps out of their car to look for damage, the suspect or a confederate steals the victim’s belongings from inside their vehicle."
During the holidays, the public should be "very cognizant of their surroundings," Aklufi said, since "criminals never seem to take the holidays off."
Aklufi called Friday's incident "extremely disturbing on several levels, not the least of which is the age of the victim."
"We are very glad this particular victim is going to be okay," she said, "and I’m very confident that our amazing detective cops will get the bottom of this."