Picture your average violent criminal, and we bet your brain didn't come up with this guy.

Cops say 75-year-old Ronald Snyder robbed a woman at gunpoint in tony Hidden Hills over the weekend. The suspect, they say, had a fake badge and a real gun: He was allegedly passing himself off as a sheriff's deputy and had access to the gated community because, until recently, “he owned a home there,” according to a sheriff's statement. Yep:

Deputies say the suspect cited “a recent significant financial downturn” as a motive for his alleged crimes.

He got inside a woman's home in the 24600 block of Long Valley Road about 9:40 a.m. Sunday, according to allegations made by the Malibu-Lost Hills station of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.


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The victim's son discovered the intrusion and dialed 911, cops say. When deputies arrived, the old guy was allegedly still there.

In fact, the sheriff's department says, when deputies arrived at the front door, the suspect had a gun in his waistband and was pushing the victim back into the house. Allegedly.

Amazingly, the coppers were able to subdue the senior without firing a round, though it sure seems like they could have.

According to a sheriff's statement:

Credit: Cops say this is the suspect's gun. Photo by LASD.

Credit: Cops say this is the suspect's gun. Photo by LASD.

The victim stated suspect Snyder came to her door and identified himself as a member of the Sheriff's Department. Snyder forced his way into the victim's house, pointed a gun at her head and said he was there to rob her. The victim convinced Snyder there was nothing of value inside the house.

Cops say that after searching Snyder's car they found …

… false law enforcement identification, handcuffs, a wig, gloves, rope and two handguns (including one with a silencer).

Wow. But wait, there's more:

After searching the suspect's home, deputies say they found more evidence, including links to another home burglary in Hidden Hills.

Snyder has been charged with suspicion of robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and impersonating a cop, deputies say.

He was jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

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