RESIDENTS WARNED AFTER GARAGE INCIDENT.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

A property management company has issued a notice warning its residents to be alert following an incident in which a woman was confronted by a masked intruder as she entered her garage.

A 15-year-old boy, suspected of being the masked person in the garage, was arrested shortly after the Aug. 12 incident in the 27600 block of Nugget Drive in Canyon Country.

The woman, sheriff's officials said, spotted the youth in her garage, got back in her car and honked her horn and screamed, authorities said. Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tim Peters said the teen's motive was unknown, but that he was a suspect because he followed the woman into the garage.

``We don't know what his motive was,'' Peters said.

Officials said the boy was wearing dark clothing and a ski mask and was waiting for the victim around the trash area of the Tres Robles complex.

The woman pulled up in her car and used a remote control to open the garage door, allowing the youth to sneak in, officials said.

The boy was seen running from the apartment complex, and was apprehended. He is being held without bail.

Officials said no weapon was used but they are searching for a black ski mask and a baseball cap, navy or black, with the letters NY or NC.

Anyone with information is asked to notify the management company or the Santa Clarita sheriff's station at [phone].