Crime & Safety
Couple in Their Eighties Victims of Home Invasion
The home invasion happened Thursday morning in broad daylight.
[Editor's Note: The Palo Alto Police Department has issued this Alert]
Three suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, forced their way into the home of an elderly couple after knocking on their door this morning. The suspects stole property from the victims and fled in a vehicle. Neither victim was injured.
On Thursday, January 23, 2014, at about 10:42 a.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a 9-1-1 call from a resident in the 400 block of Palo Alto Avenue reporting that an armed home-invasion robbery had just occurred, and that the suspects had fled the scene in a vehicle. Officers responded to the area immediately, but were unable to find any suspects.
The investigation revealed that the victims, both of whom are in their eighties, were at home alone when their doorbell rang. The female resident opened the door and was immediately confronted by three suspects she did not recognize. One of them was armed with a handgun. The suspects forced their way into the home, and made the two victims lay face-down on the floor. The suspects took wallets, cash, miscellaneous personal property, and an unloaded handgun from the residence. The victims last saw the vehicle headed eastbound on Palo Alto Avenue. Neither victim was injured.
The victims described the suspects as black male adults in their twenties. All of the suspects were wearing dark hooded sweatshirts, with the hoods over their heads. One of the suspects was armed with a small black handgun. It is possible that the victims may be able to meet with a police sketch artist; if any sketches are produced, they will be released as soon as they become available. The victims described the suspect vehicle as a newer, large “boxy-looking” beige or white four-door sedan.
Detectives are actively working on the investigation. There have been no similar crimes recently in Palo Alto. Anyone who may have information about this case is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
Three suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, forced their way into the home of an elderly couple after knocking on their door this morning. The suspects stole property from the victims and fled in a vehicle. Neither victim was injured.
On Thursday, January 23, 2014, at about 10:42 a.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a 9-1-1 call from a resident in the 400 block of Palo Alto Avenue reporting that an armed home-invasion robbery had just occurred, and that the suspects had fled the scene in a vehicle. Officers responded to the area immediately, but were unable to find any suspects.
The investigation revealed that the victims, both of whom are in their eighties, were at home alone when their doorbell rang. The female resident opened the door and was immediately confronted by three suspects she did not recognize. One of them was armed with a handgun. The suspects forced their way into the home, and made the two victims lay face-down on the floor. The suspects took wallets, cash, miscellaneous personal property, and an unloaded handgun from the residence. The victims last saw the vehicle headed eastbound on Palo Alto Avenue. Neither victim was injured.
The victims described the suspects as black male adults in their twenties. All of the suspects were wearing dark hooded sweatshirts, with the hoods over their heads. One of the suspects was armed with a small black handgun. It is possible that the victims may be able to meet with a police sketch artist; if any sketches are produced, they will be released as soon as they become available. The victims described the suspect vehicle as a newer, large “boxy-looking” beige or white four-door sedan.
Detectives are actively working on the investigation. There have been no similar crimes recently in Palo Alto. Anyone who may have information about this case is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
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