Woman, 85, Beaten and Robbed in Her Garage

Newport Beach police on Wednesday said the beating and robbery of an 85-year-old woman in her garage may be related to a similar attack last month.

Both attacks occurred in the afternoon, less than two miles apart, while the women were in their garages, police said. An investigation is underway to determine whether the victims were followed to their homes.

“This isn’t a common occurrence in this city,” said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Shulman. On Tuesday, the 85-year-old woman, who was not identified, was attacked after she returned from a Costa Mesa restaurant and pulled into her driveway in the 1300 block of Galaxy Drive about 2 p.m., police said.

When she got out of her car, she was grabbed from behind and shoved to the ground, Shulman said. The assailant beat her with his fists, then took her jewelry and fled.

The woman flagged down a passerby, who called police. She was treated at a hospital for bruises on the face.

On May 23, a 56-year-old woman returned to Lido Isle from a shopping trip when she was accosted in her garage about 3:20 p.m. in the 200 block of Via Genoa.

The attacker approached her on the driver’s side and demanded her personal property, then struck her on the left side of the head with an unknown object, Shulman said. She was hospitalized for head cuts.

In both cases, there was no description of the assailant.