Manhattan Beach is thought of as one of the safest cities in Southern California. It's home to many top athletes and more than a few Hollywood types. Beachfront homes can go for $10 million

It was on the beach, in full view of the security camera of at least one of those homes, that a woman was sexually attacked as her male companion was forced to “lay face down in the sand,” the Manhattan Beach Police Department said in a statement.

Residents along the popular boardwalklike Strand were shocked, wondering how this could happen at the end of a busy spring Saturday night just south of the surfing community known as El Porto.

The assault was reported at 12:16 a.m. yesterday in the “3400 block of the waterline,” police stated.

The victims, in their 40s, were sitting on the sand when, according to the Manhattan Beach department, … 

 … the suspect simulated the use of a handgun when he forced the male victim to lay face down in the sand, while he sexually assaulted the female victim. 


The man also allegedly robbed the pair before fleeing south toward the pier, authorities said. He's still at large.

At least one security camera pointed toward the sand was rolling at the time, according to CBS Los Angeles, but the beach was dark enough and the footage was grainy enough that the video did not appear to be of much use.

Anyone with information on the attack can call Manhattan Beach police at 310-545-4566.

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