Suspect In Three Attempted Carjackings In Less Than Seven Hours Sought

Police sought the public's assistance Wednesday in locating a 49-year-old man suspected of three attempted carjackings in less than seven hours on the Eastside.

Officers responded to the 3200 block of North Broadway in Lincoln Heights after Maurice Latorre allegedly approached a woman pumping gas at a gas station around 10:40 a.m. Saturday, entered her vehicle, pushed the woman toward the passenger seat, and demanded her keys moments before exiting the car and running away after a brief struggle with the victim, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

At around 1:50 p.m., Latorre allegedly approached another woman in the 2100 block of North Broadway, near the Golden State (5) Freeway in Boyle Heights, while the victim was entering her vehicle and demanded her keys.

"The suspect grabbed onto the driver's side door, and a struggle ensued. The suspect then let go of the door and smashed the driver's window with a hard object before fleeing the area on foot," police said in a statement.

That same day, around 4:55 p.m., Latorre approached a third woman in the 2900 block of East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, between Soto and Indiana streets in Boyle Heights, at a gas station, where he allegedly entered the victim's vehicle, grabbed onto the driver's side door, and pulled it open.

Police said the woman was pulled from the vehicle as Latorre continued to assault the victim until he was pulled off the woman by a passerby and fled on a silver bicycle.

Latorre was described as a 5-foot-9-inch tall Hispanic man weighing 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information regarding Latorre's whereabouts was urged to call 911.