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ELDERLY WOMAN CHASES BURGLARS
By: JACQUE HILBURN, Staff writer January 29, 2003
An 82-year-old woman pulled a shotgun on two burglars Tuesday and chased them from her home Tuesday after they barged inside, claiming to be roofing inspectors.
Authorities are alarmed.
And on Wednesday, they issued a strong warning to seniors and others to remain wary of what has becoming a continuing burglary scheme targeting the elderly.
"People need to keep their doors locked," said Lt. Craig Shelton, Smith County Sheriff's Office. "If someone comes to the door that you don't recognize, talk through the door - don't open it. If they persist in trying to come in, call 911."
Thus far, more than half a dozen residents have reported unknown white male suspects have entered their homes, claiming they needed to inspect the roof for leaks as part of a warranty agreement.
Once inside, they created a distraction and then stole wallets, cash and billfolds while the homeowners were not looking.
That same method of operation was used Tuesday at a home on Neches Parkway after unknown suspects approached the woman, claiming they wanted to inspect earlier roof work for leaks, Smith County sheriff's officials said.
She refused, but they moved her aside and barged inside.
"She followed one into a bedroom," Shelton said. "Then she remembered she left one in the living room. She went back and found him digging in her purse."
Authorities said she punched the man on his back and shouted at him to "get out of there."
"He hollered and stood up and she grabbed a shotgun," Shelton said.
The spry senior chased the man outside and stomped down the hall in search of the second suspect, who was rifling through her belongings.
"She confronted the guy in the bedroom and took off," Shelton said.
The pair fled in a newer-model, red extended-cab pickup, taking the woman's wallet and checkbook with them.
The pair are described as white males in their 20s with close-cut, shaved hairstyles. They were last seen wearing black shirts and blue jeans.
A lawn mower was observed in the rear of the truck.
Authorities theorize the suspects may also be linked to incidents reported last week in Tyler.
"One woman reported that two men claiming to work for Garcia's Roofing came to her home on Lingner Street to inspect for damage," said Chris Moore, Tyler police public information officer. "The woman had not called them, but allowed them in when one told her he was an inspector."
A similar occurrence happened at a home on Martin Luther King Boulevard, records show.
So far, no one has been injured in the incidents, officials said.
But the suspects are becoming more brazen.
Last week, they snatched a Smith County man's checkbook as they left.
At another home, one man climbed a woman's cable pole. As she protested from the ground below, a second suspect entered the home and grabbed her wallet.
Last week's suspects, who also targeted residents in Tyler, were described as white males in a two-toned brown truck, records show
Authorities acknowledge it could be only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
Some people are taking steps to increase their sense of personal safety.
Smith County is ranked among the top five counties in the number of concealed weapons permit holders, records show.
Firearms instructor Jay Carson, who teaches conceal carry classes at Lock and Load Indoor Shooting Range, 3408 SSW Loop 323, said he's noticed a sudden upsurge in the number of people seeking firearms for personal protection.
Many of them are seniors, he said.
"I had a 72-year-old lady last week getting a concealed handgun permit," he said. "She's not the only one."
Most of his Wednesday night classes are filled with women of all ages seeking to increase their peace of mind through gun ownership.
Carson said also the number of people signing up to re-qualify for their weapons is swelling to the point that they are making extra space available to accommodate them.
"We literally are turning them away," he said. "There's that many of them signing up for the re-qualifying class. Criminals tend to look for easy targets - people don't want to be one of them."
http://www.tylerpaper.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6871093&BRD=1994&PAG=461&dept_id=226369&rfi=6
By: JACQUE HILBURN, Staff writer January 29, 2003
An 82-year-old woman pulled a shotgun on two burglars Tuesday and chased them from her home Tuesday after they barged inside, claiming to be roofing inspectors.
Authorities are alarmed.
And on Wednesday, they issued a strong warning to seniors and others to remain wary of what has becoming a continuing burglary scheme targeting the elderly.
"People need to keep their doors locked," said Lt. Craig Shelton, Smith County Sheriff's Office. "If someone comes to the door that you don't recognize, talk through the door - don't open it. If they persist in trying to come in, call 911."
Thus far, more than half a dozen residents have reported unknown white male suspects have entered their homes, claiming they needed to inspect the roof for leaks as part of a warranty agreement.
Once inside, they created a distraction and then stole wallets, cash and billfolds while the homeowners were not looking.
That same method of operation was used Tuesday at a home on Neches Parkway after unknown suspects approached the woman, claiming they wanted to inspect earlier roof work for leaks, Smith County sheriff's officials said.
She refused, but they moved her aside and barged inside.
"She followed one into a bedroom," Shelton said. "Then she remembered she left one in the living room. She went back and found him digging in her purse."
Authorities said she punched the man on his back and shouted at him to "get out of there."
"He hollered and stood up and she grabbed a shotgun," Shelton said.
The spry senior chased the man outside and stomped down the hall in search of the second suspect, who was rifling through her belongings.
"She confronted the guy in the bedroom and took off," Shelton said.
The pair fled in a newer-model, red extended-cab pickup, taking the woman's wallet and checkbook with them.
The pair are described as white males in their 20s with close-cut, shaved hairstyles. They were last seen wearing black shirts and blue jeans.
A lawn mower was observed in the rear of the truck.
Authorities theorize the suspects may also be linked to incidents reported last week in Tyler.
"One woman reported that two men claiming to work for Garcia's Roofing came to her home on Lingner Street to inspect for damage," said Chris Moore, Tyler police public information officer. "The woman had not called them, but allowed them in when one told her he was an inspector."
A similar occurrence happened at a home on Martin Luther King Boulevard, records show.
So far, no one has been injured in the incidents, officials said.
But the suspects are becoming more brazen.
Last week, they snatched a Smith County man's checkbook as they left.
At another home, one man climbed a woman's cable pole. As she protested from the ground below, a second suspect entered the home and grabbed her wallet.
Last week's suspects, who also targeted residents in Tyler, were described as white males in a two-toned brown truck, records show
Authorities acknowledge it could be only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
Some people are taking steps to increase their sense of personal safety.
Smith County is ranked among the top five counties in the number of concealed weapons permit holders, records show.
Firearms instructor Jay Carson, who teaches conceal carry classes at Lock and Load Indoor Shooting Range, 3408 SSW Loop 323, said he's noticed a sudden upsurge in the number of people seeking firearms for personal protection.
Many of them are seniors, he said.
"I had a 72-year-old lady last week getting a concealed handgun permit," he said. "She's not the only one."
Most of his Wednesday night classes are filled with women of all ages seeking to increase their peace of mind through gun ownership.
Carson said also the number of people signing up to re-qualify for their weapons is swelling to the point that they are making extra space available to accommodate them.
"We literally are turning them away," he said. "There's that many of them signing up for the re-qualifying class. Criminals tend to look for easy targets - people don't want to be one of them."
http://www.tylerpaper.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6871093&BRD=1994&PAG=461&dept_id=226369&rfi=6
