This just happened near where I live.... these thugs are getting bold and stupid.
MISHAWAKA — Four suspects were arrested Thursday night for their role in a home invasion in the 900 block of Merrifield Avenue in Mishawaka. Police say the victim was sitting on the couch when one of the suspects broke down the door.
http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/39538847.html
Thursday night after dinner, Patti Heare was parked on the couch, watching her favorite TV show before joining her husband, who was already in bed, fast asleep.
"I was watching Ugly Betty and I heard the door jiggle," Heare said. "I thought it was one of my children."
Instead, bold, brazen thieves were lurking outside her home. Their eyes were on the 50-inch plasma television, visible from the window.
"The next thing, it just exploded," she said, describing the impact as one of the men burst in.
Inside the home, muddy footprints were all over the cream carpet, showing the path the burglar made on his way to the flat-screen.
"Then he ran over to the TV and grabbed it," Heare said. "[He] pulled it off the shelf."
Patti sat stunned. She screamed for her husband, Mike, who woke up and went after the burglar.
"Mike ran out there and grabbed the kid through the window [of their car]," Heare said. "The two kids in the backseat said, 'Go, go, go!'"
The Geo Tracker they were riding in accelerated on Merrifield Avenue. Heare's husband hung on.
"I'm glad they didn't have a gun and shot my husband," she said.
Mike eventually let go. He suffered bruises and scrapes. Heare said he possibly broke the bones in one of his fingers.
Just before Mike let go, he pulled off the rain guard on the car, which was later used as evidence to help build the case.
The suspects continued driving near Fifth Street.
Eyewitnesses recounted what happened nearly two miles away from the Heares' home.
"It was dark," said Ron Kinch. "The next thing I know, it was a whole lot of police cars down here."
Witnesses tell WSBT News the four men abandoned the Geo Tracker at the intersection of Fifth and Center streets.
Police believe the suspects got out of their car and scattered all over the neighborhood. South Bend's K-9 units were called in to find the men.
Mishawaka police arrested:
24-year-old Edward Sharick
35-year-old Robert Wilson
19-year-old Ronald Fisher
A 17-year-old juvenile, whose name WSBT News cannot release
Heare said officers told her that the suspects are all somehow related.
"When somebody is home, the lights on, the TV on, when they break in your house, you don't feel safe anymore," Heare said.
She points to bent nails and a damaged door frame — items that won't allow her to forget her fears.
"I had the deadbolt on," she said. "I can't believe they could smash right through."
St. Joseph County prosecutors are currently viewing the case.
Charges aren't expected to be filed until Saturday, February 14.
MISHAWAKA — Four suspects were arrested Thursday night for their role in a home invasion in the 900 block of Merrifield Avenue in Mishawaka. Police say the victim was sitting on the couch when one of the suspects broke down the door.
http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/39538847.html
Thursday night after dinner, Patti Heare was parked on the couch, watching her favorite TV show before joining her husband, who was already in bed, fast asleep.
"I was watching Ugly Betty and I heard the door jiggle," Heare said. "I thought it was one of my children."
Instead, bold, brazen thieves were lurking outside her home. Their eyes were on the 50-inch plasma television, visible from the window.
"The next thing, it just exploded," she said, describing the impact as one of the men burst in.
Inside the home, muddy footprints were all over the cream carpet, showing the path the burglar made on his way to the flat-screen.
"Then he ran over to the TV and grabbed it," Heare said. "[He] pulled it off the shelf."
Patti sat stunned. She screamed for her husband, Mike, who woke up and went after the burglar.
"Mike ran out there and grabbed the kid through the window [of their car]," Heare said. "The two kids in the backseat said, 'Go, go, go!'"
The Geo Tracker they were riding in accelerated on Merrifield Avenue. Heare's husband hung on.
"I'm glad they didn't have a gun and shot my husband," she said.
Mike eventually let go. He suffered bruises and scrapes. Heare said he possibly broke the bones in one of his fingers.
Just before Mike let go, he pulled off the rain guard on the car, which was later used as evidence to help build the case.
The suspects continued driving near Fifth Street.
Eyewitnesses recounted what happened nearly two miles away from the Heares' home.
"It was dark," said Ron Kinch. "The next thing I know, it was a whole lot of police cars down here."
Witnesses tell WSBT News the four men abandoned the Geo Tracker at the intersection of Fifth and Center streets.
Police believe the suspects got out of their car and scattered all over the neighborhood. South Bend's K-9 units were called in to find the men.
Mishawaka police arrested:
24-year-old Edward Sharick
35-year-old Robert Wilson
19-year-old Ronald Fisher
A 17-year-old juvenile, whose name WSBT News cannot release
Heare said officers told her that the suspects are all somehow related.
"When somebody is home, the lights on, the TV on, when they break in your house, you don't feel safe anymore," Heare said.
She points to bent nails and a damaged door frame — items that won't allow her to forget her fears.
"I had the deadbolt on," she said. "I can't believe they could smash right through."
St. Joseph County prosecutors are currently viewing the case.
Charges aren't expected to be filed until Saturday, February 14.
