Mark Tyson
Member
HOME INVASION FEAR ESCALATES HUNDREDS GO TO TURLOCK MEETING; SIMILAR CRIME OCCURS IN MODESTO
Copyright 2003 McClatchy Newspapers, Inc.
Modesto Bee
August 22, 2003, Friday, ALL EDITIONS
The fear of home invasions multiplied Thursday, as Modesto police dealt with an early morning attack and close to 300 people gathered in Turlock for a meeting with high-ranking sheriff's officers.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department has logged 13 home invasion robberies this year around Turlock, Keyes and Ceres -- including four between Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. Others have occurred in northern Merced County.
Turlock, Ceres and Modesto police are investigating similar crimes. The latest, at about 1 a.m. Thursday, did not result in any injuries, Modesto police reported.
The home invasions in county territory have produced severe beatings, sexual assaults and gunshot wounds, sheriff's spokesman Tom Letras said.
Rural residents have stepped forward with a reward fund -- amounting to $2,100 as of Thursday afternoon -- and are pressing the Sheriff's Department for answers.
Hundreds of people drove into Turlock for Thursday night's outdoor meeting, held under a cloudy sky at Roselawn High School.
"There are many nights when I'm home alone with my children that I'm scared to death," 40-year-old Reta Sanden told sheriff's officials.
Many in the crowd expressed frustration with the Sheriff's Department for not getting the word out sooner about the string of attacks.
The department did not disclose the crime wave until last week, and Assistant Sheriff Richard Bre-shears responded that officials kept the lid on to keep people from panicking.
His audience pressed him for details: Are there suspects? Is there one group responsible for the robberies? Are there any leads?
He said there are no leads that would result in imminent arrests.
Sheriff's officials declared that the investigation is a top prior-ity, but offered few details.
"The robberies have become increasingly violent, and it's very important that we get these crimes solved before someone is murdered," Lt. Jim Silva said Thursday afternoon. "Somebody out there knows who is doing this and needs to call us."
A husband and wife at Thursday night's meeting described an invasion at their house. They said the robbers kicked down the front door in 3 seconds, announced that they were Turlock police and soon had flashlights in their victims' faces.
The woman said she declared that she did not think the intruders were police, and she yelled for someone to call 911. In return, she said: "I got punched."
She advised people to "comply and do what they want -- no piece of jewelry is worth your life."
Others said baloney and indicated that they are armed and willing to shoot. A Turlock Irrigation District employee cautioned people to beware that ditch tenders such as himself are working at night -- and he hoped that none of them will be shot by accident.
One man said he had strung fishing line in the yard around his house, to guard against intruders, and another man suggested a moat with alligators.
Breshears advised people to have a plan for escaping if they hear someone breaking into their house.
Most of the home invasion robberies have happened between midnight and 6 a.m. And while many of the crimes have similarities, sheriff's investigators have stopped short of saying the invasions are the work of one crew.
A Modesto police investigator, however, gave some hints when he reported that Thursday morning's home invasion in his jurisdiction did not appear to be connected to the other robberies.
"Right now, it doesn't look like it's the same crew," Detective Sgt. Al Carter said. "They didn't kick in the door. They didn't bring flex ties (to tie up victims), they just used tape they found in the garage. And they didn't hurt anybody."
It happened about 1 a.m. on Miller Avenue, just off El Vista Avenue between Scenic Drive and Yosemite Boulevard north of Modesto Airport.
Police said two gunmen ducked under a partially open garage door and confronted four men who were playing darts. A third robber stood guard outside.
The robbers used clear plastic packing tape to bind the men's hands and legs, Sgt. Craig Plante said. They took wallets, jewelry and other property from the victims, then ransacked the house.
The gang also escaped with an unknown amount of cash from a safe.
The Stanislaus County Farm Bureau is administering the reward fund, to be paid for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the robberies. People wishing to contribute can call 522-7278.
Sheriff's investigators ask anyone with information about the home invasion robberies to call 525-7074.
Bee staff writer Ty Phillips can be reached at 578-2331 or tphillips@ modbee.com.
Copyright 2003 McClatchy Newspapers, Inc.
Modesto Bee
August 22, 2003, Friday, ALL EDITIONS
The fear of home invasions multiplied Thursday, as Modesto police dealt with an early morning attack and close to 300 people gathered in Turlock for a meeting with high-ranking sheriff's officers.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department has logged 13 home invasion robberies this year around Turlock, Keyes and Ceres -- including four between Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. Others have occurred in northern Merced County.
Turlock, Ceres and Modesto police are investigating similar crimes. The latest, at about 1 a.m. Thursday, did not result in any injuries, Modesto police reported.
The home invasions in county territory have produced severe beatings, sexual assaults and gunshot wounds, sheriff's spokesman Tom Letras said.
Rural residents have stepped forward with a reward fund -- amounting to $2,100 as of Thursday afternoon -- and are pressing the Sheriff's Department for answers.
Hundreds of people drove into Turlock for Thursday night's outdoor meeting, held under a cloudy sky at Roselawn High School.
"There are many nights when I'm home alone with my children that I'm scared to death," 40-year-old Reta Sanden told sheriff's officials.
Many in the crowd expressed frustration with the Sheriff's Department for not getting the word out sooner about the string of attacks.
The department did not disclose the crime wave until last week, and Assistant Sheriff Richard Bre-shears responded that officials kept the lid on to keep people from panicking.
His audience pressed him for details: Are there suspects? Is there one group responsible for the robberies? Are there any leads?
He said there are no leads that would result in imminent arrests.
Sheriff's officials declared that the investigation is a top prior-ity, but offered few details.
"The robberies have become increasingly violent, and it's very important that we get these crimes solved before someone is murdered," Lt. Jim Silva said Thursday afternoon. "Somebody out there knows who is doing this and needs to call us."
A husband and wife at Thursday night's meeting described an invasion at their house. They said the robbers kicked down the front door in 3 seconds, announced that they were Turlock police and soon had flashlights in their victims' faces.
The woman said she declared that she did not think the intruders were police, and she yelled for someone to call 911. In return, she said: "I got punched."
She advised people to "comply and do what they want -- no piece of jewelry is worth your life."
Others said baloney and indicated that they are armed and willing to shoot. A Turlock Irrigation District employee cautioned people to beware that ditch tenders such as himself are working at night -- and he hoped that none of them will be shot by accident.
One man said he had strung fishing line in the yard around his house, to guard against intruders, and another man suggested a moat with alligators.
Breshears advised people to have a plan for escaping if they hear someone breaking into their house.
Most of the home invasion robberies have happened between midnight and 6 a.m. And while many of the crimes have similarities, sheriff's investigators have stopped short of saying the invasions are the work of one crew.
A Modesto police investigator, however, gave some hints when he reported that Thursday morning's home invasion in his jurisdiction did not appear to be connected to the other robberies.
"Right now, it doesn't look like it's the same crew," Detective Sgt. Al Carter said. "They didn't kick in the door. They didn't bring flex ties (to tie up victims), they just used tape they found in the garage. And they didn't hurt anybody."
It happened about 1 a.m. on Miller Avenue, just off El Vista Avenue between Scenic Drive and Yosemite Boulevard north of Modesto Airport.
Police said two gunmen ducked under a partially open garage door and confronted four men who were playing darts. A third robber stood guard outside.
The robbers used clear plastic packing tape to bind the men's hands and legs, Sgt. Craig Plante said. They took wallets, jewelry and other property from the victims, then ransacked the house.
The gang also escaped with an unknown amount of cash from a safe.
The Stanislaus County Farm Bureau is administering the reward fund, to be paid for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the robberies. People wishing to contribute can call 522-7278.
Sheriff's investigators ask anyone with information about the home invasion robberies to call 525-7074.
Bee staff writer Ty Phillips can be reached at 578-2331 or tphillips@ modbee.com.
