Elderly Woman Victim of Home Invasion
Lifeline Medical Alert System Helps Communicate Attack to Authorities
An 89-year-old woman was the victim of a home invasion robbery that took place Thursday morning in Goleta, a Sheriff’s Department spokesperson said. At around 9:15 a.m., the woman told authorities, she heard the doorbell ring and answered her front door. A man standing outside pushed her backward into the hallway and into the living room. He then reportedly pushed the elderly woman to the floor and held her there for a moment before walking into the dining room.
At this point the victim activated the Lifeline Medical Alert button she wears. The Lifeline equipment inside the home began announcing an audible signal stating “medical call in progress,” which caused the suspect to flee. The woman communicated to Lifeline personnel through the device and explained she had been attacked. The message was forwarded to the Santa Barbara Emergency Communication Center which then alerted law enforcement.
Once Sheriff’s deputies verified that the suspect had left the house, medical crews attended to the woman. Though unable to get up by herself, she was uninjured.
The suspect was described as a male about 5’7” tall with a medium to “squatty” build. The Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the incident and declined to provide any additional details.
