NEW INFORMATION: Men robbed in home invasion

Car stolen and ditched near river after robbery

Friday, April 4, 2008 7:44 PM CDT

Journal Times staff

RACINE — Police are looking for three suspects who charged into a home in the 1800 block of Taylor Avenue early Friday morning, robbed two men, then fled in one of the victim’s car and tried to ditch it in the river.

Reports said the victims, ages 34 and 25, had gone to the residence to watch movies and have a couple of beers. The older victim told officers that one of his sisters lives at the address.

Soon after the victims arrived at the residence, around 2:15 a.m., three men came charging in, masked and armed. The suspects obscured the victim’s faces with a sweatshirt and a pillow and apparently held guns to the back of their heads.

One of the suspects then made loud demands for money. Then the suspects removed the victims’ clothing and rifled through the clothes and took cash, jewelry, a cell phone and car keys from the men.

The suspects then fled in the older victim’s car, a 1984 Chevrolet Caprice.

Police reports indicate that the victims waited a few moments, then got dressed and then went to the older victim’s mother’s home on Buchanan Street, where a call to police was made.

As police were investigating at the Taylor Street address, officers received a call from city public works crews about a car found on the river bank at Clayton Avenue. The car, which was determined to be the one taken at Taylor Avenue, was found with keys in the ignition and in gear. It was caught on a culvert, which apparently kept it from going into the water. Police said the car’s stereo system and amplifiers had been removed.

Police said the older victim suffered a scrape and swelling to the forehead during the incident.

Police estimate the value of the stolen items from the victims and the car at $1,154.

Reporter Marci Laehr-Tenuta contributed to this report.

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