KTLA

Montclair police seek violent robber who sent elderly man to hospital

The Montclair Police Department is looking for a man who allegedly robbed and attacked an elderly man last month, ultimately landing the victim in the hospital.

The robber struck Feb. 16 while the 72-year-old victim was withdrawing money from an ATM in the 9700 block of Central Avenue, police said in a Facebook post.

The assailant, who is believed to be between 25 and 35 years old, took the older man’s money and wallet and “physically attacked him,” police said.

Astrid Oka told KTLA the victim is her father, Thamrin Laksmana, who was injured when the attacker pushed him, causing Laksmana to hit his head.

“Somebody hit him from the back and then right away grabbed his wallet and his card altogether … The guy got into his car, and my dad tried to block the door from closing in. That’s when he get shoved by the guy and then fell and hit the curb on the back of his head,” Oka said.

After the assault, Laksmana lost consciousness and was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for a brain bleed, Oka said.

The suspect has a red beard and was last seen driving a silver or tan Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, possibly made between 2016 and 2019 and with a California handicap license plate on it.

Anyone with information is asked to call MPD at 909-621-4771 or Detective J. Garabedian at 909-448-3643.

“The family and I are hoping that this guy will get catch and pay for what he did to my dad,” Oka said.