Three men steal $25,000 from elderly Norwalk woman

NORWALK -- Three men forced their way into an ill 85-year-old woman's home early Friday and stole $25,000 she was planning to use to pay for her funeral, authorities said.
The woman awoke about 2:15 a.m. to a loud banging on her back door, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Steve Mills said.
Once she realized someone was trying to break in, she grabbed her purse, which contained $25,000 along with other miscellaneous items, and headed for her front door, the sergeant said.
"She had the money in there, in part, to pay for her anticipated funeral," Mills said.
The woman said in television interviews that she suffered from cancer.
The intruders forced their way into the home and confronted the woman near her front door, officials said.
She accidentally dropped her purse, which the three burglars quickly scooped up off the floor before fleeing to a gray or green vehicle described as a Chevrolet Malibu or Impala, Mills said.
Officials described the burglars as three young black men wearing hooded sweat shirts.
Mills said investigators were looking into whether the burglars may have been aware the woman had a large amount of cash with her.
"We're investigating all avenues," he said.