Woman Speaks About Home Invasion

08/25/2008

http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S555747.shtml?cat=10151

It's been just over a month since Meredith Sparks and her boyfriend Barrett Owens moved into this trailer in Stewartville.

Last Friday afternoon, Sparks was busy inside cleaning.

"I heard the door open and shut, I was on the phone with my ex-husband and I went and checked on it, I didn't see anybody, turned around and went back in and said I have to go," says Sparks.

Sparks said she heard the door open and close again, got off the phone, and that's when she was confronted by a tall man, wearing a mask and claiming to have a gun.

"He came around the corner and slammed me up against the wall, he said he wanted me to move out now and if I called the police department he would kill me and he threw me on the floor,” she says.

He threw her on the floor hard enough to break her back.

Sparks says when they moved in, they found drugs and turned them over to the police.

Now they think someone was returning to get them.

"I think they wanted me out, so that they could find the rest of the drugs, I think it was a drug connection," says Sparks.

"How do you feel staying here now? Scared, very scared," says Sparks.

They say its not enough to make them leave their new home.

"This is my house and nobody is going to scare me off of it," Sparks says.

Tough woman. I suggest a gun and stronger locks.

Burglars hit Edina homes

Thursday, August 14, 2008

http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/08/15/breaking_news/1ed21burglaries.txt

Burglars broke into two homes recently and attempted to break into another one in Edina's Country Club neighborhood. The burglars entered the homes through ground-level windows in early-morning hours.

Edina Police Det. Dave Carlson said the two burglaries and one attempted burglary occurred within close proximity during the night between Aug. 12 and 13.

The burglars stole cash and alcohol valued at $320 and a Mercedes SUV valued at $32,000. The vehicle had not been recovered as of Aug. 14.

The burglars gained access to the houses by cutting screens in main-floor windows.

So, the ground-floor windows were open, using screens for security? If you must leave your windows open at night, get your windows pinned, to keep the window from being opened beyond the point you want it.

Residents were home during the break-ins, but did not wake up. Dogs were also present at the two homes where burglars gained access, but did not bark. One house alarm was set off when the burglars left a residence out the front door.

No one saw the suspects. There are no leads at this time.

Luckily, they just wanted cash and a Mercedes. These thugs had full access to the homes and the people in them.

"We need and appreciate help from the public so we can apprehend the people committing these burglaries," Carlson said. "And please lock your windows and doors; make it harder and more time consuming for someone to break in. Lights around the exterior of the house are a good idea, too. But I can't emphasize strongly enough the importance of calling us if your dog suddenly starts barking at 3 a.m. or you think you see someone in your backyard."

Excellent advice.

Home invasion injures two

08/13/2008

http://www.winonapost.com/stock/functions/VDG_Pub/detail.php?choice=26204&home_page=1

Two masked men wielding golf clubs as weapons broke into a home on the 850 block of West Fifth Street early Tuesday morning, assaulting at least two occupants inside.

Police said that the incident was absolutely not random, and that the men entered the home demanding to see a specific individual. Chief Deputy Paul Bostrack said that the two males, who entered the home at about 2:49 a.m., swung the golf clubs and struck one occupant in the upper arm and another in the head. Neither occupant required medical treatment, said Bostrack.

"Not random" doesn't mean the victim's were criminals.

MPD HIGHLIGHTS for the week of 29 July – 4 August, 2008

29 July – 4 August, 2008

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crimealert/2008-07-29-MPD-Highlights.asp

10xx 17^th Av SE:

Officers called to Burgalry in Progress; victim in home interupted burglars who had entered 2nd

story; suspects fled on foot, but apprehended by officers in area; suspects left their car in victm’s driveway; suspect had property stolen in earlier burlary, burglary tools: 2 Arrested/BURGLARY

(suspects, brothers with extensive criminal history for burglary)

CID investigating

1000 blk Mt Curve: Victims woke up, saw suspect in basement; suspect fled; witness description lead officers to recognize suspect as he walked by squad: Arrested/BURGLARY

CID investigating

Man tied up, blindfolded during home invasion

August 11, 2008

http://www.southwestreviewnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=62&SubSectionID=275&ArticleID=3196&TM=54048.48

A man was bound and blindfolded by intruders the evening of July 30 as the West St. Paul house he was staying in was burglarized.

Two or three men entered the house through an "unlocked entryway," Lt. Brian Sturgeon said in an interview last week. One man carried a semiautomatic handgun.

Lock your doors. This was an armed invasion by a group of people who would have at least offered warning if they would have had to kick the door down.

Buffalo Man Chases Burglars Away With Gun

Friday, 18 Apr 2008

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=BC4949B3D3CAE22297C15F0CCB8C5924?contentId=6342742&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

BUFFALO, Minn. -- Steve Remer chased burglars from his Buffalo, Minn home with a gun after finding his bedroom door tied shut and unfamiliar noises around the house.

Fortunately:

Then, Remer heard an unfamiliar voice in the hallway. He grabbed his .357 handgun from the closet and chased the intruder down the stairs and out the front door, firing several shots at their stolen SUV on the way out.

I'm glad he could protect himself, but shooting the getaway vehicle, when it is no longer a threat isn't a good idea.

When Remer went back into the house, he found a second suspect locked in a bedroom.

“I said come on out -- put your hands on your head, I’ll show you a little about Hanoi,” Remer said, with a laugh.

It was meant as a joke to them, but Remer says the suspect didn’t take it lightly, instead jumping out a window and running off.

I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but here's some advice: Watch what you say. Dark humor, the media, and self-defense rarely work together in your favor. If you have to use a gun in self-defense, you should be talking to your lawyer, NOT a news crew or the police.

The good news:

Police caught up with Michael Rolla, 18, who led them to his accomplice, Jeremy Fuller, 18. Officers also arrested Kyle Posusta, 24, after finding Remer’s stolen guitars and electronics in Posusta’s apartment.

Lock your doors: Perham burglary reports widespread

August 06, 2008

http://www.perhameb.com/articles/index.cfm?id=9670§ion=news

That's three, count 'em, three hot burglaries in one night, apparently by one thug.

A 67-year-old Perham man who fell asleep on his couch woke up in the middle of the night, startled to discover that someone had been in his house.

and

After responding to the first burglary call, at a home in northwest Perham, Christopherson noticed tracks in the grass behind the house and followed them to the back door of a neighboring home.

Christopherson knocked on the door, and a man answered, saying that someone was in his house about a half hour ago. In the house at the time of the intrusion were the man, his wife, and their daughter.

and

While investigating this second burglary, a call came in about yet another home intrusion—this time in northeast Perham. As with the previous incident, the homeowner reported waking up and hearing someone in his house.

The homeowner said that he took out his 9 mm and drew down on the suspect who was in his home. The man then demanded that the suspect get out of his house, and the suspect ran away.

That's the best way to confront a home invader. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.

Possibly two more, but the article doesn't state that anyone was home.

The other two burglaries reported both involved purses taken from inside the kitchen area of homes. In one case, the suspect entered the home through an unlocked patio door. In the other burglary, entrance was gained through an unlocked back door. Both of the stolen purses were discovered within close proximity to where they were taken—with certain items missing.

Tipline:

Anyone with information about the stolen items, or the suspect(s) behind the burglaries is encouraged to contact the Perham Police at 218-346-4452.

MPD Pct 5: Man arrested after entering residential home

8/4/2008

Via Minneapolis Crime Alerts:

On the 1000 block of Mount Curve Ave this morning at 3:44 am, a man entered a resident’s home and spent time inside without permission while the victims were asleep. There was no forced entry and no reported loss at this time. The victim confronted the suspect and called 911, at which point the suspect left. The victims were unharmed.

An arrest was made immediately by officers who were patrolling the neighborhood. The man, Terrence Anthony Berglund (date of birth: 4/21/1967), was apprehended and positively ID’d by the victim as the man who had entered their home. Terrence Berglund was arrested for PC burglary of dwelling and booked in Hennepin County Jail.

The victim was able to give a unique description of the suspect, which helped responding officers quickly locate the offender.

What You Can Do:

• Lock all windows and doors, even when you are home or asleep
• Pin windows that you want to have open; it’s recommended to secure them so they can’t open higher than 6”. See information for pinning windows under Home Security Information at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-prevention/ Note that you can also get brass sash stops at local hardware stores.
• Call 911 on suspicious activity
• Try to get a good description of suspects and vehicles. Some helpful hints are located here: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-prevention/docs/Descsusp.pdf

Daytime Hot Burglary in Bernadotte Township Ends Peacfully

August 1st, 2008

http://keyc.tv/article/view/146560

The Nicollet County Sheriff's Department is investigating a home invasion in Bernadotte Township. Authorities say it happened Friday afternoon around 2:40 P.M. at 501st ave in Rural Nicollet. The suspect entered the home asked for money and then left angry when he was told there wasn't any in the home. The suspect is a male, 5 foot ten to 6 feet tall, weighing between 150 to 170 pounds. At the time of the invasion he was wearing a black t - shirt blue jeans and black tennis shoes. He was driving a newer model white Chevrolet 4 door truck with a shiny chrome grill with Minnesota loon habitat plates. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nicollet County Sheriff's office at the number on the bottom of the screen

Good news for the home owner that the perp wasn't very dedicated.

Two Shots Hit Invaded Apartment Dweller

August 4th, 2008

http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=354936

In what's being called a home invasion, a 17-year old boy was shot twice when he chased intruders from his sister's apartment early Sunday morning.

The 17-year-old told police he had been sleeping in his sister's apartment when his sister awoke him because some people -- from one to three -- were ransacking the residence, the spokesman said. They apparently were not taking belongings from the residence, Muyres said.

The boy chased the intruders who had left the apartment. The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the complex. Muyres said police had another report from a witness of two people picking up shell casings.

Take note that the boy was shot twice and witnesses claim to have heard two "pops." i.e. the perps hit him with both shots. A lot of people think bad guys don't know how to shoot. Don't count on it.

It's not clear what really happened or why, but the article does say the shooting occurred in the parking lot. If this is the case, then the 17-year old was chasing them out of the apartment (or someone's story isn't true). Regardless, it's a good reminder that if the bad guys are running away, you should probably let them go. Chasing them, can often create more problems.

We'll keep watching this story. It sounds like either the apartment complex is just in a bad place (possibly unrelated fighting in the parking lot, loiterers fleeing when police arrive) or we're missing a lot of pertinent details