News

Actions

Henrico mother robbed while decorating family Christmas tree

Posted at 1:39 PM, Nov 25, 2013
and last updated 2013-11-26 16:33:28-05

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Three men with guns invaded a Henrico home Sunday night while the people inside the house decorated their Christmas tree, according to Henrico Police Lt. J. A. Sperry.

When a mother living at the home along the 5700 block of Garron Point Ct. went outside to smoke, she told police she saw a person she did not know outside the house.

"The kids were in the house,” the mother said. She asked CBS 6 not reveal her name because she was still shaken from Sunday night's crime.  “My 12, 8, one-year-old and newborn were inside, but they didn't see it."

The children were safe, upstairs in a room inside the West End house while downstairs three masked men stormed in.

When she went back inside after smoking, police said three suspects followed her in, stole her purse and ran off. The crime happened about 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

"Everybody was putting up Christmas decorations when they busted through the backdoor," she said.

The victim didn't want to show her face on television because the three men who barged into her home are still at large.  She said from the way they were screaming, she knew they meant business.

“’Get down,’” she said they screamed. “’This is not a joke.’"

The violence so close to home baffles neighbor Tony Imholte.  “It’s usually pretty quiet,” he said.  “A lot of families with kids around here."

He said this is the second time in six months he's dealt with a crime like this.  He said the family that used to live next door to him were involved in a home invasion and robbery a few months ago.  And now it's the people who live behind him.

"Two in a short span of time has got me worried,” Imholte said.  “I have a little boy here and the last thing I need is my family to deal with this kind of danger."

Two of the three suspects were armed, and one had two guns, according to the victim.

Neighbors think the suspects are coming from nearby apartment complexes, and now police are working on proving that.

"I'm just very surprised it's happening here,” said the victim. “ I might have to get the screen door with bars.  It's crazy."

Christmas Tree Robbery

Police said all three suspects were black men in their 20's. Police offered the following descriptions:

  1. Light complected, 6’1-6’3,  170 pounds, wearing  gray hoodie
  2. Dark complected, wearing black hoodie, carrying two hand guns.
  3. Medium brown complected, 5’9, wearing lack hoodie

Police asked anyone with information about this crime to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.