Police: Fayetteville homeowner armed robberies connected
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Fayetteville police confirm the connection between three recent armed robberies involving homeowners off Morganton Road.
"You know it doesn't take a police officer to figure out we have a trend, alright?" said Mike Geske, a detective with FPD's Special Investigations Division. "We definitely have a problem geographically in that area. We believe that they are connected."
The latest incident happened Tuesday night around 10:35 p.m. Police say two masked men kicked in the side door of a home in the 300 block of Courtyard Lane. At the time, the couple inside was watching television and working on the computer.
The suspects are described as black, and approximately 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a slim to average build. The suspects took the couple's Volkswagen, which was later found in a gym parking lot off McPherson Church Road.
On Sept. 15, a woman who lives a mile away on Summertime Drive was robbed at gunpoint in her garage just after 8:00 p.m. The suspect, who was masked and dressed in tan from head to toe wearing multi-colored contact lenses, used one of the victim's stolen gift cards at a local restaurant.
Read More: Fayetteville woman says robber held gun to her head
This week, FPD released a suspect sketch drawn from the descriptions restaurant employees provided police.
On Sept. 24, police say a man on a bicycle tried to rob a homeowner checking his mail in the 3500 block of Turnberry Court. It happened around 9:40 p.m.
Police believe these homeowners have been watched, followed, and targeted.
These crimes have neighbors worried for their safety.
"Years ago, a thief would come through an open window," said neighbor John Geraffo. "Now, they'll kick your door down. They don't care if you're there or not. If you kick my door down, I'll have something for you, but you have to be prepared."
"[I'm] very scared," said Sharlene Riddle-Williams, a neighbor and property owner who sells lots in the Courtyard neighborhood. "It's bad when you've got to pull in your garage, [and] look through your rearview mirror as your door is going down."
Fayetteville police advise homeowners to do whatever they're told if they find themselves in this situation. Geske said he's knows it's nothing you expect to have to deal with on any given day.
"You're in your house [and] somebody kicks your daggone door in," he said, shaking his head. "So at that point just comply with them. Try to get through it safely."
Geske said if they can catch one of Tuesday's suspects, they can break up the crime ring responsible.
"If we can find out who these individuals are, we can tie them to all of the robberies," said Geske. We just need the assistance from the community to call in."
Anyone with information regarding the suspect's identity or the home invasion is asked to contact Detective M. Quillen at (910) 237-4675.
Information can also be submitted by calling Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477) or by visiting http://www.fay-nccrimestoppers.org/send_a_tip.aspx and completing the anonymous online tip sheet or by text-a-tip on your mobile device by sending a message to 274637 (in the text box type "4Tip" followed by your message).
