Mark Tyson
Member
Posted on Sat, Aug. 30, 2003
Police say latest invasion robbery similar to others
By Deanna Boyd
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH - For at least the 14th time since April, masked robbers carrying guns forced their way into a Fort Worth residence, tying up the occupants before stealing cash and possessions.
The robbery Friday morning did have one difference that police hope will call attention to the intruders: They took a 6-foot Burmese python.
But in other ways, the descriptions and the method of operation for Friday's robbers are similar to the descriptions in 13 previous home-invasion robberies, Fort Worth police Detective Brent Johnson said.
"I think it's probably related to some of those," he said. "It's definitely along the same line."
According to a police report, a couple at a house in the 5000 block of Littlepage Street told police that someone began knocking on the front door about 1 a.m.
The man told police that when he opened the inside door, he saw two men, one with a silver pistol, the other with a sawed-off shotgun. The robbers demanded that the man open the outer security door, which the man did out of fear for his life, the report said.
The robbers forced the man to lie facedown and they bound his hands and legs with tape.
Three or four other men then came into the house, the occupants told police, and bound and gagged the woman. The robbers threw blankets over the victims' heads as they demanded to know, "Where's the stash? Where's the stash?"
The man directed the robbers to a closet where money was kept.
About $1,500 in cash, a PlayStation and a 6-foot black, brown and white Burmese python were taken, the victims told police.
After the robbers left, the man freed his hands, hopped into the kitchen and got a knife to free himself and the woman, the report said. The man then called 911.
Victims in the previous robberies described how two to six men pried or kicked open doors, then tied them up as they demanded money, drugs or jewelry. The robbers have hit and sometimes pistol-whipped their victims, and once tried to cut off a victim's finger with scissors. Most of the robberies have been in south and east Fort Worth, but Friday's robbery was in the Lake Como neighborhood on the west side.
Victims have been unable to give detailed descriptions of their attackers because they usually wear ski masks, stockings, bandannas or T-shirts wrapped around their heads. The robbers are described only as African-Americans in their 20s and about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall.
Anyone with information about the robbers should call the police robbery unit at (817) 877-8316.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of the robbers. Callers to (817) 469-TIPS may remain anonymous.
Where the robberies occurred
400 block of Perkins Street
1600 block of South Henderson Street
2100 block of Jacocks Lane
800 block of May Street
1400 block of Glasgow Road
5800 block of Boca Raton Boulevard
4800 block of East Berry Street
100 block of Thornhill Drive
1400 block of Shiny Oaks Trail
5300 block of East Rosedale
4700 block of Norris Street
6400 block of Brookhaven Trail
4000 block of Wedgway Drive
5000 block of Littlepage Street
Deanna Boyd, (817) 390-7655 [email protected]
Police say latest invasion robbery similar to others
By Deanna Boyd
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH - For at least the 14th time since April, masked robbers carrying guns forced their way into a Fort Worth residence, tying up the occupants before stealing cash and possessions.
The robbery Friday morning did have one difference that police hope will call attention to the intruders: They took a 6-foot Burmese python.
But in other ways, the descriptions and the method of operation for Friday's robbers are similar to the descriptions in 13 previous home-invasion robberies, Fort Worth police Detective Brent Johnson said.
"I think it's probably related to some of those," he said. "It's definitely along the same line."
According to a police report, a couple at a house in the 5000 block of Littlepage Street told police that someone began knocking on the front door about 1 a.m.
The man told police that when he opened the inside door, he saw two men, one with a silver pistol, the other with a sawed-off shotgun. The robbers demanded that the man open the outer security door, which the man did out of fear for his life, the report said.
The robbers forced the man to lie facedown and they bound his hands and legs with tape.
Three or four other men then came into the house, the occupants told police, and bound and gagged the woman. The robbers threw blankets over the victims' heads as they demanded to know, "Where's the stash? Where's the stash?"
The man directed the robbers to a closet where money was kept.
About $1,500 in cash, a PlayStation and a 6-foot black, brown and white Burmese python were taken, the victims told police.
After the robbers left, the man freed his hands, hopped into the kitchen and got a knife to free himself and the woman, the report said. The man then called 911.
Victims in the previous robberies described how two to six men pried or kicked open doors, then tied them up as they demanded money, drugs or jewelry. The robbers have hit and sometimes pistol-whipped their victims, and once tried to cut off a victim's finger with scissors. Most of the robberies have been in south and east Fort Worth, but Friday's robbery was in the Lake Como neighborhood on the west side.
Victims have been unable to give detailed descriptions of their attackers because they usually wear ski masks, stockings, bandannas or T-shirts wrapped around their heads. The robbers are described only as African-Americans in their 20s and about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall.
Anyone with information about the robbers should call the police robbery unit at (817) 877-8316.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of the robbers. Callers to (817) 469-TIPS may remain anonymous.
Where the robberies occurred
400 block of Perkins Street
1600 block of South Henderson Street
2100 block of Jacocks Lane
800 block of May Street
1400 block of Glasgow Road
5800 block of Boca Raton Boulevard
4800 block of East Berry Street
100 block of Thornhill Drive
1400 block of Shiny Oaks Trail
5300 block of East Rosedale
4700 block of Norris Street
6400 block of Brookhaven Trail
4000 block of Wedgway Drive
5000 block of Littlepage Street
Deanna Boyd, (817) 390-7655 [email protected]
