Rosemont Home Invasion

[Volanova]

Rosemont family held at gunpoint while house is ransacked.

Police: Rosemont Family Held At Gunpoint - Radnor, PA Patch

Release from the Radnor PD (includes description of perps):

6/7/2012 8:11:39 AM EST - Radnor Township Police Department

Crime Alert

Home Invasion

The Radnor Township Police Department has issued a crime alert for a home invasion that occurred in the late evening hours of June 6, 2012. This incident occurred in the 100 Block of Brooklea Road in the Rosemont Section of Radnor Township.

At 1:11 AM on June 7, 2012 Radnor Police Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 100 Block of Brooklea Road for a report of a home invasion. Responding officers located the family outside of the residence. The victims report that upon returning to their residence at approximately 11:30 PM on Wednesday evening June 6, 2012 they were forced at gun point into the house. Once in the house, the residents were tied up while the perpetrators ransacked the residence removing cash and jewelry.

The perpetrators are described as follows:

Perpetrator #1 is a black male 30-35 years of age, 5’7”-5’9”, with a heavy set build last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt with a Polo logo.

Perpetrator #2 is a black male in his late teens/early twenties, thin build, last seen wearing a red long sleeve t-shirt.

Perpetrator #3 is a described as a black male with no further description.

All perpetrators were brandishing handguns, wearing face masks and baseball style caps one of which was a New York Yankees Hat.

The victims are of Asian descent and it is believed that this residence was targeted due to a recent regional crime trend where perpetrators are specifically targeting Asian business owners.

If you have information on the identity of the perpetrators who committed this crime or observed any suspicious activity in this area please contact the Radnor Police Department’s Investigations Unit at – 610-688-0503.

Just goes to show that it doesn't matter where you live, you always have to be aware of your surroundings, most especially when entering and leaving your home or car.

Knowing how and being prepared to defend yourself doesn't hurt either.

[cewillm]

Love the soccer mom neighbor that was interviewed. There's crime on the main line!?

[lemko]

Rosemont family held at gunpoint while house is ransacked.

Police: Rosemont Family Held At Gunpoint - Radnor, PA Patch

Release from the Radnor PD (includes description of perps):



Just goes to show that it doesn't matter where you live, you always have to be aware of your surroundings, most especially when entering and leaving your home or car.

Knowing how and being prepared to defend yourself doesn't hurt either.

The criminals are going out to the suburbs because there's nothing left to steal in the 'hood. These home invasion robberies are truly frightening. How do you defend yourself against a bunch of thugs waiting to ambush you when you come home? I'd normally suggest a good security system and to carry a firearm, but this is an extraordinary circumstance. Would having a big dog with you at all times help or would the criminals simply kill the dog?

[BarryG]

The criminals are going out to the suburbs because there's nothing left to steal in the 'hood. These home invasion robberies are truly frightening. How do you defend yourself against a bunch of thugs waiting to ambush you when you come home? I'd normally suggest a good security system and to carry a firearm, but this is an extraordinary circumstance. Would having a big dog with you at all times help or would the criminals simply kill the dog?

Gated community... I know an Asian family that did just that after a home invasion in Melrose Park.

[lemko]

Gated community... I know an Asian family that did just that after a home invasion in Melrose Park.

I see the victims of this crime was an Asian family. Many of these folks distrust banks and tend to keep large amounts of cash in their home. Criminals know this and specifically target them.

[Hospitalitygirl]

I see the victims of this crime was an Asian family. Many of these folks distrust banks and tend to keep large amounts of cash in their home. Criminals know this and specifically target them.

True about the stereotype, but this was a dentist--it's not exactly a cash business. Then again, thugs aren't particularly smart.

[Volanova]

The criminals are going out to the suburbs because there's nothing left to steal in the 'hood. These home invasion robberies are truly frightening. How do you defend yourself against a bunch of thugs waiting to ambush you when you come home? I'd normally suggest a good security system and to carry a firearm, but this is an extraordinary circumstance. Would having a big dog with you at all times help or would the criminals simply kill the dog?

I was grappling with this myself. Usually, I'm a big proponent of firearms for self defense. However, in this case, I'm not sure it would have helped. As I said, the best thing you can do is be prepared and be aware. If something is off, don't go in the house. There are almost always signs that something isn't right, you just have to be cognizant enough to see them.

A firearm would have only helped in this case if the user had enough time to draw and fire before they were shoved in to the house. And that would require someone with some pretty thorough experience, practice and training, much more than your average citizen has (or even police officer, for that matter). Not to mention a willingness to pull the trigger. Otherwise it's a bigger danger to yourself than it is to the threat.

[NickleDimer]

Another Asian business owner targeted in robbery

Now, he definitely wants to move. But, "Right now, I don't know where is safe," he said.


My comments:
1) The suburbs are gettin crappy!
2) I know where is safe: not driving your Benz through Olney and being followed home
3) It's not a racially motivated crime! It's a CULTURALLY motivated crime! I'm not a janitor. I'm a sanitation engineer.

[billy ross]

I just don't see the wisdom of driving a vehicle craved by predatory people. Why make yourself a target like that? A family in CT was raped then murdered after being followed home from the grocery by (white) career criminals. Vanity is really, really foolish.

Another Asian business owner targeted in robbery

Now, he definitely wants to move. But, "Right now, I don't know where is safe," he said.


My comments:
1) The suburbs are gettin crappy!
2) I know where is safe: not driving your Benz through Olney and being followed home
3) It's not a racially motivated crime! It's a CULTURALLY motivated crime! I'm not a janitor. I'm a sanitation engineer.

[NickleDimer]

Ross,
That may be true, but I think 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the foolishness in this instance lies in the lives of people who commit these crimes.

[BarryG]

I just don't see the wisdom of driving a vehicle craved by predatory people. Why make yourself a target like that? A family in CT was raped then murdered after being followed home from the grocery by (white) career criminals. Vanity is really, really foolish.

So the Petit family brought rape and murder upon themselves for driving a nice car? Right, and Sabina Rose O'Donnell was raped and killed because the perp wanted her bike. I like you and most of your posts but get a grip.

[billy ross]

So the Petit family brought rape and murder upon themselves for driving a nice car? Right, and Sabina Rose O'Donnell was raped and killed because the perp wanted her bike. I like you and most of your posts but get a grip.

In my opinion vanity is indefensible. I don't think Sabina was doing anything wrong, but the Petits calling attention to themselves and how much money they had (whether they had it in reality or not) invited trouble, no? It seems a similar situation here. I've got a solution for you. Drive a vehicle that even if you left the keys in the ignition people probably wouldn't steal it. Maybe it's Quakerism or the Jesuits influencing my thinking, but to do otherwise strikes me as foolish. I've spoken with people who complain about how it's impossible to park at the new soccer stadium in Chester. I see alot of parking around there, though. I don't understand their logic, unless you assume that they feel vulnerable in the vehicles they drive, that those vehicles make them targets. If that's the case then they drive impractical vehicles.

[lemko]

In my opinion vanity is indefensible. I don't think Sabina was doing anything wrong, but the Petits calling attention to themselves and how much money they had (whether they had it in reality or not) invited trouble, no? It seems a similar situation here. I've got a solution for you. Drive a vehicle that even if you left the keys in the ignition people probably wouldn't steal it. Maybe it's Quakerism or the Jesuits influencing my thinking, but to do otherwise strikes me as foolish. I've spoken with people who complain about how it's impossible to park at the new soccer stadium in Chester. I see alot of parking around there, though. I don't understand their logic, unless you assume that they feel vulnerable in the vehicles they drive, that those vehicles make them targets. If that's the case then they drive impractical vehicles.

This is why I drive around the city in an unassuming hooptie.

[JasonMcElroy]

In my opinion vanity is indefensible. I don't think Sabina was doing anything wrong, but the Petits calling attention to themselves and how much money they had (whether they had it in reality or not) invited trouble, no?

I've seen this line of defense used before . . . in rape cases.

Victim shares some responsibility huh?

You're a real piece of work, man. Either that or just stone fu cking insane.

Jason

[NickleDimer]

At what point is a car sh*tty enough that no one would want to steal it? The answer to this question will help me decide whether or not to blame the victims of car thefts and home invasions. A year/model or cash value would be helpful.

[billy ross]

At what point is a car sh*tty enough that no one would want to steal it? The answer to this question will help me decide whether or not to blame the victims of car thefts and home invasions. A year/model or cash value would be helpful.

If it is a car which is rapped about as being a car to impress the ladies with, it's a no no. It is said that in Europe the rich who want to be low key drive Volkswagens, and this explains the price premium that VW gets in comparison to similar models. It's not purely a ghetto problem. Like it or not, highway robbery has been with us since before the days of Jesus (remember the story of the Good Samaritan?). It cost Bill Cosby his son. It cost Michael Jordan his father. I just see no reason to place my loved ones in that position. If people aren't impressed by my consumption habits, I'm ok with that. You're surprisingly vulnerable when you're in an automobile. If there's anything I want to communicate, it's that I've got a screw loose and you really don't want to mess with me. It's like the Eddie Murphy skit, describing what economists call 'the rationality of irrationality.' The last thing I want to communicate is that I'm an easy mark who will
roll over for you.

A few Marches ago I bicycled alone from West Palm Beach to and around Miami. I grew some pretty wild facial hair and no one bothered me. I got hassled by security at Briny Breezes, but I stayed in Hialeah, walked and biked all around, and no problems. I don't think I dressed like a dandy, either, to go along with my intentionally dangerous look. If things ever REALLY got bad I'd shave my eyebrows, but thankfully I live in a pretty safe world.

[Volanova]

I've seen this line of defense used before . . . in rape cases.

Victim shares some responsibility huh?

You're a real piece of work, man. Either that or just stone fu cking insane.

Jason

I don't entirely agree that you shouldn't be able to drive around in a nice car, but at the same time, there is something to be said about not making yourself a target and being aware of your surroundings. If someone was walking through, say, the rougher parts of West Philadelphia, with their wallet out in their hand wearing a Rolex and $5,000 sunglasses and acting like a tourist, and happened to get mugged, of course everyone would tell them that they had it coming. If it does, in fact, turn out that these people were followed all the way to Rosemont, they should have had enough situational awareness to realize they were being followed. It's going to be pretty obvious when you're being tailed that far unless there's some major team-work going on.

To equate that observation with the explanation that rape victims "had it coming" is a little bit unfair.

[NickleDimer]

Let's create a list of cars that are rapped about and ownership of them will waive criminals of some responsibility for attacking you. I see luxury cars that are rapped about on just about every block of the city, so there are a lot of criminals that should be excused for their actions. How should they be expected to resist temptation and not assault and steal?!

[JasonMcElroy]

I don't entirely agree that you shouldn't be able to drive around in a nice car, but at the same time, there is something to be said about not making yourself a target and being aware of your surroundings. If someone was walking through, say, the rougher parts of West Philadelphia, with their wallet out in their hand wearing a Rolex and $5,000 sunglasses and acting like a tourist, and happened to get mugged, of course everyone would tell them that they had it coming. If it does, in fact, turn out that these people were followed all the way to Rosemont, they should have had enough situational awareness to realize they were being followed. It's going to be pretty obvious when you're being tailed that far unless there's some major team-work going on.

To equate that observation with the explanation that rape victims "had it coming" is a little bit unfair.

It's exactly the same argument:

I don't entirely agree that you shouldn't be able to walk around in a sexy dress, but at the same time, there is something to be said about not making yourself a target and being aware of your surroundings. If someone was walking through, say, the rougher parts of West Philadelphia, with their legs showing and wearing high-heeled shoes and acting like a tourist, and happened to get sexually assualted, of course everyone would tell them that they had it coming. If it does, in fact, turn out that these people were followed all the way to Rosemont, they should have had enough situational awareness to realize they were being followed. It's going to be pretty obvious when you're being tailed that far unless there's some major team-work going on.

Jason

[Naveen]

This is why I advocate having a firearm (or two) in your vehicle at all times, and making sure you have it in hand before ever unlocking your car door and getting out. Even in Rosemont...and especially in Bryn Mawr!