The case of the creepy caretaker.

A woman’s former in-house caretaker broke into her Richmond district home Wednesday night, assaulted her and stole her flat-screen television, police Officer spokesman Albie Esparza said.

Earlier in the day, police said, the 53-year-old victim was involved in an argument over the phone with the former caretaker, who was described as a man in his 30s. During the argument, the victim hung up on the man.

The suspect had stopped being the woman’s caretaker several years ago, Esparza said, but they had reconnected and become friends.

However, about 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, the victim heard the “crunching noise of broken glass” coming from her kitchen, Esparza said. She told cops she then saw the former caretaker standing in her kitchen.

The creep knocked the woman to the ground, Esparza said, then walked into her bedroom, grabbed the TV and fled down 23rd Avenue toward Fulton Street in what the victim told cops was a four-door silver vehicle.

The victim complained of pain to her head, but refused treatment. No arrest has been made.

Police know the suspect’s identity and have issued an arrest warrant, Esparza said.

rnagle@sfexaminer.com