Police nab three in armed home invasion

December 31, 2007

http://www.woodburybulletin.com/articles/index.cfm?id=26534§ion=News&freebie_check&CFID=79034052&CFTOKEN=81322570&jsessionid=88308d37871d184c537f

I missed this one last Thursday.

Three suspects believed to be involved in an armed robbery of a Woodbury home were expected to be charged by the Washington County Attorney’s office Monday.

Daylight home invasions make me twitch a bit.

According to sources at the Woodbury Police Department, the crime occurred around 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, at a home on the 2100 block of Cypruss Drive, near the Woodlane Place Apartments.

Police received a call around 4 p.m. of a home invasion where two suspects displayed hand guns after gaining forced entry into the home. Police responded and arrested three suspects in two separate incidents following the home invasion.

Another 'not random' home invasion. Will there ever be a random one? Do crooks really drive up and down the street flipping coins to pick a target?

Salo said the home that was targeted was known by the suspects, and that the armed robbery was not a random crime.

Bloomington invasion suspects in custody

12/27/2007

http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2007/12/29/news/bl03robbery.txt

On 12/22 around 11:15pm, two men (one with a gun) broke into the apartment of a family in Bloomington demanding to know where "John" was. The family didn't know of this person. Apparently, the perps entered the wrong house.

...
In addition to the man, a 34-year-old woman, a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy were in the apartment at the time. All were in the living room when the suspects entered.

Ultimately the family's efforts were successful and the assailants fled the apartment, according to police reports. They took no money or other property.
...

This family was lucky that the assailants weren't interested in doing any harm to them.

Law Enforcement acted quickly to detain the fleeing invaders:

Off-duty Officer Joe Spark was working at a nearby hotel when he heard 911 dispatchers describe the home invasion, Herman said. Moments later, Spark spotted a suspicious vehicle and trailed it.

As other squad cars joined in following the vehicle, it pulled into the SuperAmerica station at 7720 Nicollet Ave. S. Three suspects got out and bolted on foot, Herman said.

"We set up perimeters around the area," he said. "Richfield cops and the State Patrol helped."

Officer Mike Vonderhaar and his canine partner, Hugo, found one suspect hiding along railroad tracks near 77th and Pillsbury Avenue, Herman said.

"Then they located the other two hiding under trees near 77th and Pillsbury," Herman said.

Dec 20, 2007

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/12674657.html

However, police say their biggest concern isn't so much robberies, but home invasions.

Police say there have been at least five home invasions since September.

How did I miss two?

Even though this is a larger number than usual, police are saying that each one of the victims was targeted for a specific reason by the suspect.

"It's significant we had a number of them where it jumps out at me and I do want to clarify again that these are not random events," said Sgt. Bob Shene with the Duluth Police Department.

How wonderfully equivocating. Of course they're not random. "They look rich" eliminates the random factor. Victims are cased, not drawn from a hat.

Police say it is important to be careful where you put a hide–a–key.
Don't put it in a place where it can be easily found.

Write down the serial numbers of all the expensive items in your home.
This will help police find them if they ever get stolen.

And if you are going to be out of town, put automatic timers on your lights and have your neighbors collect your mail.

Arrests in Powerhorn Robberies and Lowry Hill Home Invasion

12/18/2007

http://www.buzz.mn/?q=blog/2234

Previously reported here.

19-year-old Lester Pinex, 23-year-old Carl Banks, and 21-year-old Aaron Windom, all listing home addresses in Gary, IN, have been arrested in connection with a home invasion burglary that took place on the 13xx block of Summit Av in the Lowry Hill neighborhood during the evening of November 3rd, 2007.

Grampre Sentenced to 25 1/2 years for April, 2007 Rape-Invasion in Lakeville

12/14/2007

Lakeville Breezes Newsletter from Dec. 14, 2007

This week, the Honorable Judge Martha Simonett sentenced Chad Joseph Grampre to 306 months (25.5 years) in prison for a sexual assault against an adult female that occurred in early April this year in Lakeville. In the crime, Grampre broke into the residence and sexually assaulted the woman at knifepoint. The sentence given by Judge Simonett was an upward departure under Minnesota sentencing guidelines from 15 years for an individual with Grampre’s criminal history.

It's nice to see stiff sentencing for a violent crime.


However, whenever I see a writer/speaker mention that an attack wasn't random, I seriously question their motives. In this case, it Grampre clearly had opportunity due to proximity to the victim. From the Criminal Complaint filed in this case, it does not appear that there is any additional connection between Grampre and the victim.

The man told A.S.B. he did not know why he had picked her house and that he was not from the area. The male then fled the residence.

In my opinion, having a complete stranger break into your house, rape you, and admit he didn't know why he picked you seems pretty random. Convenient opportunity does not automatically mean not random. I can only conclude that they say it's "not random" to convince the public that they're safe from this type of crime.


I'm not trying to employ scare tactics, but do you know for a fact that a Chad Grampre will never be living or even just visiting across or down the street from you? ... I don't either.

Two people attacked in Mpls. home invasion

12/14/2007

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=489944

Two people are recovering from injuries suffered in a home invasion in north Minneapolis.

Unfortunately, this is where people expect things like this to happen. We should NEVER expect and accept crimes in our neighborhoods.

It happened just after 4 p.m. Thursday on the 2500 lock of West Broadway.

Police say one person was shot. Another person was beaten. Both were hospitalized at North Memorial Medical Center.

More as it develops

Police looking into burglary, home invasion

December 13, 2007

http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS01/112120040/1009

St. Cloud police are investigating a home invasion and burglary reported Wednesday morning.

Police were called at 9:55 a.m. Wednesday to an apartment in the 1400 block of 12th Avenue North. A neighbor found a 37-year-old woman in the hall with duct tape over her mouth, Sgt. Jerry Edblad said.

The woman said three men walked into her unlocked apartment and tied her up with shoe strings, Edblad said. The men struck her in the head with an object and kicked her several times. She was not seriously injured.

Lock your doors!

After 30 minutes, the men left with jewelry and several items from her purse. The woman said she did not know the men, Edblad said. She was able to free herself from the shoe strings and get into the hallway, where a neighbor found her, he said. An infant was home at the time but was not injured.

A woman, home alone with a baby, didn't lock her doors. In this day and age, there is a word for that, but it's not polite. I am not blaming the victim. This crime is the fault of the criminals. There are, however, things that can be done to lessen the likelihood of becoming a victim. Locking your doors takes seconds.

Police investigate home burglary

December 07, 2007

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=55751

Duluth police are investigating the second home invasion crime committed in the city in two days.

Once again, irresponsible reporting includes the address of a victim.

At 3:30 a.m. Friday, a reporting party said that several people came into his Morgan Park residence at [address redacted], tied him, put a gun to his head and stole two cell phones and other items.

Brooklyn Center police seeking 5 masked intruders in home invasion

12/07/2007

http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_7660029?nclick_check=1

As many as five armed and masked intruders broke into a Brooklyn Center home Thursday night but fled before officers arrived, police said.

A less-than-one-minute response time is impressive. Good job BCPD.

Officers responded to the home within a minute of the [911] call, but by the time officers arrived, the robbers were gone, police said.

Good news:

No one was hurt.

And the possible circumstances:

Police said they are investigating the relationship between the suspects and victims and that this does not appear to be a random robbery attempt.

Police investigate home burglary

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=55605

Duluth police are investigating a home invasion burglary reported Wednesday morning....

I redacted the address because I think it's terribly irresponsible to publish a victim's private information.

Three men forced their way into the residence that was shared by three college students and one high school student, police said.

Fortunately,

No one was injured....

Yet Another Paynesville Home Invasion Follow-up

12/06/2007

We had a reader anonymously comment that we weren't telling the whole story. He or she seemed pretty irate that we weren't thorough enough. At the time, princewally and I were simply not yet unaware of the whole story. I've finally found the time to follow up and here is the added info the commenter was referring to.

It appears that Walley was on a suicidal rampage:

Meeker County authorities alerted the State Patrol that they had received information at 2:15 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26 that Walley may be suicidal and had made comments of suicide by law enforcement using his Dodge Neon.

Walley had also told a Paynesville couple, whose home he had burglarized, that he wanted someone to kill him or the police to kill him.

Walley assaulted the homeowners and threatened them with what they believed to be a gun, yet he was asking the homeowners if they had any guns in the house so someone could kill him.

After stealing their vehicle and leading police on a high speed chase, they used a PIT maneuver to stop Walley. Resulting in two burning cars. When police demanded that Walley exit the burning vehicle, they say they saw him point what looked like a gun at them, at which point they shot him. Walley then asked them to shoot him again.

Well, it turns he didn't have a gun, but rather a " a tool configured in a way that appeared to be a handgun." But it was apparently convincing enough to the LEOs involved that they shot back at the threat.

Walley admitted that when he exited the vehicle his intention was for police to shoot him. He also admitted that he searched the vehicle for a tool that could be made to look like a weapon, which would require officers to react with force.

How does this relate to the reported home invasion? Well Walley is being charged in with "threatening with a dangerous weapon" and "threatening an individual while inside the home" along with the burglary charges associated with the home invasion. It's not clear that the "threatening with a dangerous weapon" charge is related to the home invasion or just the police-involved shooting, but it's pretty clear that Walley was acting unpredictably. It's easy to monday morning quarter back when we now know that Walley just wanted to die and that he didn't have a gun. But the Paynesville couple was likely still very scared and Walley showed a lack of concern for others' safety by crashing his own vehicle and speeding from police in the stolen vehicle. That he didn't actually have a gun in the end, doesn't negate the fear he created for everyone who was involved.

Robbers hit victims as they enter or exit their garages

December 5, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/local/12163496.html

This isn't exactly a home invasion story, but it's close. It's still hitting people where they are most comfortable. People are still being violated at their homes, if not actually in their homes.

Minneapolis police are warning residents of several north Minneapolis neighborhoods to take precautions after four people were robbed while entering or exiting their garages.

If you see someone hanging around your house at night, drive around the block, go get a cup of coffee, call the police to escort you to your door, but don't pull up next to him and then distract yourself with the packages you just bought. Pay attention to your surroundings, and keep yourself safe.


Hat tip: Minneapolis Crime Watch

Robbers invade home, taser victim in Mpls.

11/27/2007

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S269537.shtml?cat=1

Adding injury to insult. Robbery isn't enough, they need to get tazed, too?

A Minneapolis home invasion turned violent when robbers used an unusual weapon Monday.

Police said the suspects shocked a victim continuously with a taser and then stole thousands of dollars in electronics from a residence on 19th Ave, near the University of Minnesota and Augsburg College campuses.

Robbing them, threatening them for no purpose and leaving. Don't let strangers in your house. Keep your doors locked.

The three suspects corralled the three roommates on the couch and said one of them would be shot. Ten minutes later, the robbers left leaving the three victims unharmed.

Paynesville Home Invasion Follow-up

11/28/2007

http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007111280040

The suspect in the Paynesville home invasion from 11/26 is George Francis Walley.

Walley,

... 28, was charged with two counts of first-degree burglary with possession of a dangerous weapon and fleeing police in a motor vehicle.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Stearns County, Walley walked into a Paynesville home at 2 a.m. Monday and approached the homeowners with a small caliber semi-automatic weapon.

Walley struck one homeowner in the chest with the gun and held the occupants against their will.

He eventually left in the residents’ vehicle and was later spotted in Waite Park. An officer tried to stop the vehicle, but it raced away on Minnesota Highway 23 through St. Cloud, reaching speeds of 100 mph. Walley repeatedly ran red lights

The vehicle was eventually stopped in Mille Lacs County where Walley was shot and taken to North Memorial Medical Center.

...

Clothes Stolen By Intruder While Occupants Were Sleeping

November 28,2007

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/?a=317232&z=2

Chilly air caused a 36-year-old Rochester woman to wake up Tuesday morning and discover someone had pried open a window to get inside while she was asleep.

The burglar took underwear from her bedroom and clothes from her children's room, according to police Lt. John Edwards.

That there are such people about is very disturbing. It's a good thing the pervert only took things and didn't do anything other than attack this family's sense of security. Hopefully, this incident will drive home the need to keep the windows and doors locked.

Home invasion leaves family shaken

11/28/2007

http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=317230

Authorities are searching for two men who forced their way into a southeast Rochester home Tuesday night, fought with one occupant and then held his mother at gunpoint, demanding cash.

Two men entered and began fighting with the son, Edwards said. The mother went to see what was going on, and one of the suspects grabbed her in a headlock and pointed a gun at her head, telling the son to quit fighting or she would be killed, police said. The son followed the orders. The mother and son then were led to an office room on the main floor. The son's two friends also were brought to that room.

Important lesson: Be careful, be prepared, be armed when you open your door.

Robbinsdale girl, 11, safe after being kidnapped

11/26/2007

http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_7561998

An 11-year-old Robbinsdale girl is safe after being kidnapped Saturday and left inside a vacant house.

A man broke into the girl's home Saturday morning and took her to a vacant house in Brooklyn Center, where he tied her up and left her, KARE-11 said in a report.

I can't think of anything more invasive and terrifying than my kids disappearing from their beds.

Good for her for getting away. Escaping on her own will hopefully help her psychologically more that being kidnapped, bound, and abandoned will hurt her.

Man invades home, commandeers Paynesville couple’s car

November 26. 2007

http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/NEWS01/111260072/1009

This happened in Paynesville, population 2262.

PAYNESVILLE — A Paynesville couple were not seriously injured early today after a man with a weapon walked into their home and took their car, Paynesville Police Chief Kent Kortlever said.



The man, whose name has not yet been released, then walked into the couple’s unlocked home. The suspect had what the victims believed was a gun, Kortlever said.

Important lesson: Lock your doors!

Good news:

The victims were not tied up or injured....

Better news:

The suspect eventually got away in the homeowner’s vehicle. He was found in Mille Lacs County by a deputy and a state trooper, Kortlever said.

The man was shot twice by police and was taken to a nearby hospital.

St. Cloud Father and Son Fight Fight Off Burglars

November 20, 2007

Apparently, this happened last night. http://wcco.com/crime/father.son.burglary.2.591807.html

St. Cloud police say a father and son decided to fight back after discovering a couple of would-be burglars in their home.

Police say the father and son had returned home last evening when the son heard noises upstairs. The son went to the garage, got his dad and came back in the house only to find one burglar coming downstairs with a TV.

The burglar threw the television at the homeowners before running off. Then a second burglar came downstairs and the fight was on.

...

The article is pretty sketchy about how they fought back, but it appears that they went mano a mano and prevailed. Good for them that the burglars were unarmed or unwilling to use weapons against the homeowners.

Introduction

This is a record of Minnesota home invasions. Consider it a warning, a cry of doomsday, or a call to self-defense, whichever you prefer. We focus on home invasions, because a home invasion, of all crimes that do not have a predicate act of violence, these are the most invasive. A home invasion is a crime attacking people where they are supposed to feel most safe.

This is a new site, started 11/19/2007. The archives are backdated entries to keep the recent cases in chronological order.

Home invasion reported in Richfield

November 19, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1560135.html

A home invasion in Richfield this morning was not a random occurrence and a man inside the home was "targeted," said Lt Todd Sandell.



Three other people in the house were not hurt. Two who were sleeping upstairs heard the commotion, fled the house and called police.

Sandell said all indications are "that this is not a random invasion." The victim "had something the suspects wanted."

All victims do, whether it's a big screen TV, money, life, or peace of mind.

Elderly man attacked in second home invasion

November 19, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1561164.html

To Robert Harris the two men who rang his door bell Sunday afternoon didn't look too bad. Looks apparently are deceiving because the men turned out to be crooks.

Harris, 77, said as soon as he opened door of his southeast Minneapolis home, the men 18-to-21 years old pulled a gun, hit him across the head and knocked his glasses off, then rifled through his belongings. They stole a jar of quarters and took $60 from him. And they stayed long enough to use the bathroom.

It's unfortunate that it's not safe to be elderly in Minneapolis this month.

The incident which occurred at 4:30 p.m. on the 100 block of S.E. Bedford Street marked the second time this month that somebody broke into the home of an elderly person who was home alone and attacked them.

Police are not sure if the two men who attacked Harris are the same intruders who broke into the home of a 77-year-old woman in northeast Minneapolis on Nov. 11. In that case, the suspects sprayed the woman with mace. She had just had cataract surgery the week before the attack, police said.

<--snip-->

Harris said he still feels safe in his neighborhood where crime is lower than in other parts of the city. But he knows what he will do the next time somebody unfamiliar comes knocking on his door.

"I have a peek hole that I will use," he said. "I will turn on the light or maybe just ignore it."

Or, get an efficient and effective means of defending yourself.

Teenager arrested after fight turns into home invasion

November 12. 2007

http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071112/NEWS01/111110063

Hardly a clear-cut case.

A 19-year-old Annandale man was arrested early today after a fight turned into a home invasion.

St. Cloud police were investigating a report of a fight in the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue South at about 1:38 a.m. Sunday when they were told that three men had gone into a nearby home through an unlocked door.

On the other hand, anybody who is willing to do this is not a nice guy.

A man inside the house was assaulted and at least one of the suspects threatened to cut the small children who were there.

When police went to the house all three of the intruders ran, heading north. One — Tyler James Powell of Annandale — wasn't able to outrun police.

Arrest made in St. Paul rape case

November 10, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/10242/story/1542839.html

A 19-year-old St. Paul man was arrested Saturday night in connection with the home invasion and rape of a 17-year-old girl on St. Paul's East Side last week.

St. Paul police said they arrested the man about 8 p.m. and booked him into the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and on an outstanding probation-violation warrant.

So he's got a history of criminal behavior, too?

The man is suspected of forcing his way into the victim's home in the 600 block of Jessamine Avenue on Wednesday and assaulting the girl, who was home alone at the time. She was treated at Regions Hospital and released.

Home-invasion suspect also accused of burglary

11/10/2007

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=314902

Related coverage here.

An investigation into a planned home invasion in rural Stewartville has led to new criminal charges against a former Rochester resident.

Dennis Lee Richardson Jr., 22, who now lists an address in Willmar, Minn., was arraigned Tuesday in Olmsted District Court on the latest charge, one count of third-degree burglary. He is accused of breaking into the TBM Properties at 1003 First Ave. S.E. on April 9 and taking more than $8,600 in cash. Unconditional bail is set at $120,000 and conditional bail at $60,000. He returns to court Nov. 19.

Richardson also faces a string of criminal charges in Winona, accused of aiding others in a violent home invasion in which a man was beaten and duct-taped to a chair. That was on May 16. The charges against Richardson were filed Friday.

Lowry Hill Home Invasion

November 3, 2007

http://mplscrimewatch.blogspot.com/2007/11/home-invasion-burglary-in-lowry-hill.html

On Saturday November 3, around 9:30pm three unknown suspects broke into a home on the 1300 block of Summit Avenue. The suspects entered the residence by removing window screens and entering through an unsecured kitchen window. They confronted and restrained the victim, demanding personal property. The suspects released the victim and left the residence, stealing the victim’s vehicle. The Minneapolis Police Department has added additional patrol coverage in the neighborhood.

Another man faces charges in May home invasion

October 30, 2007

http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/10/30/news/05home.txt

Three 22-year-old Rochester men could face going to prison for almost as many years as they’ve been alive if convicted for their roles in the May 16 home invasion of another man more than three times older than them.

Charges filed within the past week accuse two of them of barging into a Winona home, tying up and beating the man and stealing nearly $5,000. The third is still awaiting charges.

<--snip-->

According to Lindsey’s criminal complaint, the three men forced their way inside a home in the 600 block of West Fifth Street after asking to use the phone May 16. Once inside, they pistol-whipped the

69-year-old homeowner and duct-taped him to a chair, court documents said. The man suffered broken bones in his face, a broken nose and bleeding on his brain.

Lindsey, Brooks and Doughboy allegedly made off with the resident’s wallet, $800 cash and a safe containing $4,000 in commemorative state quarters.

Mpls Family Shoots an Intruder

10/30/2007

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=4787429&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

A thief targeting a north Minneapolis house got a little more than he bargained when he attempted to break in.

Three charged in April home invasion

October 10, 2007

http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/10/10/news/00lead.txt

Two Louisiana men and a woman were charged Monday for an April home invasion robbery on Mankato Avenue, and arrest warrants were issued for the suspects, who police say fled to Louisiana.

Two of the suspects are brothers with a violent past whose own parents are afraid of them, according to police.

Probation violations put convicted killer behind bars again

September 25, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/467/story/1445356.html

This headline is lame. "Probation Violation" makes the headline seem tame. "Burglar-Turned-Murderer at it Again" would be more accurate.

Convicted killer Feon Stone is going back to jail after he admitted in court Tuesday that he had violated probation by getting arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary.

Stone, 21, served seven months in jail after he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter last year. In that case, he punched 29-year-old Christopher Beck during an attempted burglary Aug. 23, 2006, causing Beck to fall backward and hit his head and die. Stone also was a suspect in several other attempted burglaries, police said.

From the Pioneer Press, we get:

St. Paul / Man guilty in homicide now a burglary suspect

Much better.

This guy gets a stayed sentence for home invasion/murder, then goes right back to home invasion. This time, he's busted on a two-fer.

A man who served seven months in jail for manslaughter and last week allegedly broke into two St. Paul homes might be heading to prison, according to a court document filed Tuesday.

Ramsey County District Judge Salvador Rosas signed an order Tuesday that led to Feon Stone, 21, being arrested again.

In January, Rosas sentenced Stone to about seven years in prison for killing his girlfriend's uncle, Christopher Beck, and stayed the sentence. He also sentenced Stone to one year in jail and 15 years' probation.

Stone, who had been in jail since the August 2006 homicide, was released from the county workhouse in April after serving about two-thirds of his jail sentence, which is standard practice.

St. Paul police arrested Stone last week on suspicion of burglary. He allegedly broke into a North End home early Thursday and punched the homeowner in the head during a scuffle when the man confronted him. The homeowner fired a gun, and Stone ran away.

Soon after, Stone allegedly broke into a nearby home where a 74-year-old woman had been sleeping. The woman got out, and police caught Stone in the house.

Stone was held in the Ramsey County jail until Saturday, when he was released pending further investigation. He hasn't been charged in connection with the break-ins.

Beck's mother said she is pleased about the prospect of Stone facing prison.

"It's about time," said Joan Abbott. "I finally feel like we're getting some justice for Chris."

Empire Township Boy and Grandmother Kidnapped for Ransom

September 18, 2007

http://wcco.com/topstories/Dakota.County.potential.2.370372.html

...a man, who claimed to be a law enforcement officer, took a grandmother and her grandson hostage at a home in rural Dakota County.

"He identified himself as a police officer. He wasn't in uniform, he was lead into the residence. Once he was in the residence he took the grandmother hostage," said Bellow.

Investigators say the suspect handcuffed the grandmother, then drove her and the 2-year-old to the Apple Valley TCF Bank.

"Was given specific instructions to take money from the bank and then she was given further instructions where to leave it. She followed the instructions because she was told that her mother and child were being held hostage," said Bellow.

An undisclosed amount of ransom money was dropped off at the Farmington ice arena where the kidnapper picked it up.

Several days later (9/22) police released a sketch of the suspect and a vehicle description taken from a surveillance camera at the ice rink where the ransom money was dropped:

The FBI thinks the man is in his late twenties -- about six feet tall, with a muscular build.
...
A surveillance camera snapped a picture of the kidnapper's SUV as he drove off.

It's tough to make out, but the FBI said it's a white Land Rover, Toyota or Honda.

If you know anything about this case, you are asked to call 911.

More Links:
http://www.thisweek-online.com/2007/September/25empinci92407.html
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s200360.shtml?cat=1

Woman injured in St. Paul home invasion

September 17, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1427534.html

A St. Paul woman is recovering from minor injuries after two men broke into her home late Sunday.

The intruders entered her home on the 1100 block of W. Minnehaha Avenue around 11 p.m. and "demanded items of value," said Tom Walsh, a police department spokesman.

Duluth home invasion: St. Thomas student charged

September 12, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/467/story/1419412.html

A University of St. Thomas student and Army National Guard member has been charged with a home invasion that terrified a Duluth boy and his mother.

David E. Schiller, 19, of St. Paul studied robberies, burglary and blood forensics, and then staked out the Duluth home for 10 to 15 days before breaking in on Aug. 30, according to a complaint charging him with first-degree burglary and kidnapping.

Choir boys trying something new, or career criminals (un)lucky enough not to have been shot, yet?

That third man had driven Schilling to other home invasions and had told Schilling that the family kept money in a safe in their home, the complaint says.

Lawyer Shot in Lakeland, MN

August 25, 2007

Keith Radtke, a Minneapolis lawyer, was wounded at his home in Lakeland, MN.

From http://wcco.com/topstories/swat.teams.keith.2.369850.html

The bizarre night started across the St. Croix River in Hudson, Wisconsin. Police had a warrant to arrest the man, but when they tried serving it, he shot at them, then jumped in a car.

Police chased the suspect down I-94 and into Lakeland, Minnesota. He got out of the car, then ran from home to home up and down Old Toll Bridge Road.

It all came to an end, when he got to Keith and Jody Ratdke's home. Ratdke and his wife had just put their three boys to bed upstairs, and they came downstairs.

The front door was still unlocked, and the man bolted through the front door with a gun. All three went into the garage, and there was some kind of struggle between Ratdke and the man. Ratdke was shot once, but he was still able to pin the man until police arrived.

When officers arrived, they shot the suspect with a Taser and arrested him. He was taken to Regions Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition.

Fortunately, Mr Radtke pulled through okay.

The bullet pierced Radtke’s lower back but hit no major organs - just muscle and tissue. There was no need for stitches. His wife and children were unharmed. He refused to talk about their ordeal, but issued a statement: “Our family wants to thank all of the law enforcement and medical personnel for their great work. We feel blessed to be in good hands.”

Other archived Star Tribune links (slow to load):
Initial vague report
A much more detailed follow-up
Radtke released from hospital

Home-Invasion, Rape in Lakeville, MN

April 30, 2007

http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/LawJustice/News/AttorneyNews/GrampreChadCharge.htm

Chad Joseph Grampre, age 22 of Edina, has been charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First Degree, one count of Burglary in the First Degree and one count of Assault in the Second Degree in connection with a home invasion that occurred in Lakeville on April 4, 2007.

According to the complaint*, there's a pretty conclusive DNA match and Grampre admitted to having entered the home:

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension completed the DNA analysis and was able to eliminate 99.999992%
of the population but was not able to eliminate Grampre. On April 27, 2007 Investigators again spoke with
Grampre who admitted to entering A.S.B.’s home on April 4, 2007 and sexually assaulting her while holding a
knife to her throat.

As of 11/20/2007, Grampre is in custody in Dakota county awaiting a court date on 12/10/2007. There are 7 charges listed in his booking record**. In addition to the sexual assault charge are three drug possession charge and one forgery charge.

* The complaint can be viewed by visiting http://services.co.dakota.mn.us/ComplaintSearch/ entering Grampre's last name and viewing the proper record in the search results.
** While Grampre is in custody in Dakota county, you can view details of the charges here.

Two people dead, one critical after home invasion in rural Waseca

2/3/2007

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=241303

Two people are dead and a third is critically wounded following a home invasion in southern Minnesota.

The shootings happened around 3:30am Saturday at a farmhouse in a rural area of Waseca.

This is very unfortunate.

When police arrived, they found 40-year-old Tracy Krueger and his son, 13-year-old Alec Krueger, a student at Waseca Junior High School, dead.

Tracy's wife, 41-year-old Hilary Krueger, was also shot and airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center where she was listed in critical condition Saturday afternoon.