Woman Awakens To Home Invader Touching Her, Masturbating Next To Her Bed: SMPD

SANTA MONICA, CA — A homeless man was arrested last week after he broke into a woman's Ocean Park home, entered her bedroom and masturbated next to her bed while touching her, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

The man broke into the woman's house on the 2400 block of 2nd Street on Feb. 29 at around 2:10 a.m. The woman awoke to the man "standing by her bed and touching her face while he masturbated," police said in a release Monday.

The woman ordered the man to leave; he fled before officers arrived, police said.

The woman provided security camera footage to detectives, who were able to identify the suspect as Anthony Romero, 28, within hours, police said.

The next morning at around 9:30 a.m., officers found Romero walking near Santa Monica Boulevard and 3rd Street. Police took him into custody with the help of a drone and K9 officer, police said.

Romero was booked on charges of burglary, indecent exposure, attempt to commit rape and a parole hold out of San Bernardino County, according to police.