A woman and child were taken to a hospital after the late-night assault on Hazeltine Avenue.
VAN NUYS, CA — Police investigated a late-night robbery in Van Nuys after a woman reported that a man wearing Christmas-themed clothing assaulted her and a child before taking her purse, phone and cash.
Officers responded at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday to the 6500 block of Hazeltine Avenue, according to authorities. The robber had left the area before officers arrived, and no arrest had been reported as of early Friday.
The woman told investigators that the man appeared to be wearing Christmas-themed clothes and red pants. Police did not immediately release a more detailed description of him or say whether investigators had obtained surveillance video from the neighborhood.
Authorities said the woman and the man knew each other, but they did not provide details about their relationship. Police also did not release information about what led to the reported confrontation.
The woman and child were assaulted before the property was taken, authorities said. Both were transported to a hospital as a precaution. Details about possible injuries were not immediately released.
Officers remained in the neighborhood for several hours as they investigated the report. Information about the amount of cash taken and whether any of the stolen property had been recovered was not available.
Police had not publicly identified the man or announced an arrest by early Friday. The investigation remained active, and authorities had not released further information about the circumstances of the robbery.
Author note: Last updated July 24, 2026.