Worcester’s Home Invasion Crisis Trending Upward

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor

On Sunday night, a 66-year-old man was a victim of a home invasion on Marble Street in Worcester. The man was accosted by two individuals, one male and one female. They struck him on the head, forced him to the ground and kicked him. As they searched for valuables, the man was able to flee and yell for help. The two suspects fled the apartment taking the victim's wallet, a small amount of jewelry, electronics, and keys.

SEE SLIDESHOW BELOW: WORCESTER'S TEN MOST DANGEROUS HOME INVASIONS IN 2014

Since 2010, there have been more than 90 reported home invasions in Worcester. In 2014 alone, there have been 26 reported home invasions,suggesting that these violent crimes are trending upwards. In the previous four years (2010-2013), the average amount of annual home invasions was 16.

"Home invasions are a variation of both robbery and burglary. On average it accounts for about 11 percent of all robberies. And it is rising. However, over the last ten years, it has been stable. Worcester is following the national trend, that it is rising," said William McCarthy, Criminal Justice Professor at Becker College and Quinsigamond Community College.

Worcester's Home Invasions at a Glance

Half of these invasions came in a relatively short amount of time between April and July. In June, one man alone had his home invaded by the same person four times. According to Worcester Police, "The suspect in these incidents repeatedly forced his way into the home, brandished a gun and demanded cash and personal items from the victim. The suspect rummaged around in the man's home in search of belongings and valuables."

At least half of the year's home invasions involved use of a firearm. According to McCarthy, "most robberies occur in December because more people have money for the holidays. I told my students to get ready because I wanted them to watch the news to see how many robberies occur wherever they may be.”

In Sunday night's invasion on Marble Street, the victim waited two hours before calling a family member to let them know what happened. The family member called the police immediately upon finding out. The victim refused medical attention when the police arrived.

McCarthy said, “A lot of times when the elderly are victimized by crime there’s a lot of guilt and anger involved. They feel like they’re upset because they let this happen to them. A lot of times they think ‘Oh, what did I do? I should’ve known better.’ It’s a very common thing among the elderly. They’re embarrassed about that kind of thing.”

Being Prepared and Protecting Yourself During a Home Invasion

Gary Williams, President of F.I.R.E Defensive Skills, recommends residents be willing to be armed with some type of weapon, and be prepared to use it. "The weapon can be anything," said Williams. "While a firearm is most obvious, other things can be staged, and used as a weapon. One of things I do in my home, is have a buffet table right beside the front door, and keep a heavy candle stick holder on it. It looks nice, and can be used as a blunt striking tool."

Williams also recommends for the more "serious" home defender is to keep a knife in reach at all times. We believe its a good thing to stage a blade (bat, or golf club) near your sitting area, and have it ready if you need something right now. F.I.R.E tells people when they are sitting on their couch, and something happens to "stand up, move to contact, and fight". "Many people don't want to fight, but if an attack is taking place on your home, you simply have no choice," said Williams.

In Massachusetts, victims of home invasion are protected by law to fight back against intruders. According to a section in Massachusetts General Law, in the prosecution of a person charged with killing or injuring someone who was unlawfully in their home, it's in their defense that at the time of the offense, that person acted with a reasonable belief that the intruder was about to cause great harm or death upon the occupant, or someone else in the home. The court recognizes this as reasonable means to defend yourself, your home, and it's occupants.

State law also notes that anyone entering the home of someone else, knowing that someone is home, and the intruder remains in the home armed with a dangerous weapon, and uses or threatens force upon someone in the home is guilty of home invasion and could be sentenced a minimum of 20 years in prison.

F.I.R.E. also recommends an alarm system capable of having panic buttons. The panic button will set off an audible alarm, and send a signal to the monitoring center.

"We also tell people to harden a room, and use it as a panic room. The way to make any room into a panic room, is to simply put an exterior door on their bedroom, or any other room that they want to use. Ensure the door has a dead bolt. They should also keep an old cell phone in that room, as even cell phones that no longer have service, will still call 911," said Williams.

"After the event has taken place, it's important to notify the police as soon as possible, and disturb the crime scene as little as possible. Minimizing traffic through the area greatly enhances the evidence collection effort,"said Williams. "Residents should also seek mental health professionals, as the trauma of the event will most likely cause symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)."

Home Invasion Statistics

In 2010, the Bureau of Justice Statistics released a report detailing robberies and home invasions in the United States between 2003 and 2007. According to the report, “'Home invasion' has been used broadly to describe any crime committed by an individual unlawfully entering a residence while someone is home. More narrowly, home invasion has been used to describe a situation where an offender forcibly enters an occupied residence with the specific intent of robbing or violently harming those inside."

During that time period, household members were victims of violent crimes in more than 250,000 burglaries. 65 percent of the suspects were known to the victims, while 28 percent of the suspects were strangers.

“During these home invasions, a criminal will use a disguise or ruse to enter someone’s home and they will blind them, bound them or gag them. Sexual assault, or other injuries occur, in a small number of cases. The profile of a person who is a home invader is less likely to be a stranger. In many occasions, it could be somebody that the person knows," said McCarthy.

Related Slideshow: Worcester’s Most Dangerous Home Invasions in 2014

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1. Two Suspects Invade Apartment

5.28.14 - Worcester Police responded to a Duxbury Road apartment for a report of a home invasion. Upon arrival, officers met with six residents who were home at the time of the incident.

According to the residents, two male suspects forced their way into the apartment. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun. The suspects demanded cash as they searched through the apartment. The pair fled the scene with cash and several personal items belonging to the victims.

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2. Suspect Flees From Attack Dog

11.19.14- At 4:00 AM, Worcester Police were called to an apartment on Almont Avenue. At the time of the incident, several people lived at the apartment. A 24-year-old male was confronted in his bedroom where he engaged in a physical altercation with the suspect. During the altercation, the suspect’s mask fell off. The victim ordered his dog to attack the suspect. The suspect then fled the apartment.

The victim received minor injuries.

Officers observed that the backdoor of the dwelling had been kicked in.

Later that day, Worcester police arrested Andrew Perch, 28, of 252 Mower Street, Worcester. Perch was charged with Home Invasion and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

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3. Coward Invaders Hit 16-Year-Old

3.20.14- At 11:00 PM, Worcester Police responded to a Fairmont Avenue apartment for a reported home invasion. Responding officers were informed that five to six males had entered the home with one of the suspects armed with a handgun.

The victims were 16, 12 and 5 years old. The victims were shaken but unhurt.

According to the victims, they heard a knock on the front door. The 12-year-old answered the door and 5 to 6 males entered the home. One of the suspects was carrying a handgun. The suspects demanding money. The suspects searched and ransacked the apartment.

The suspects fled out the rear door when a vehicle was heard pulling up to the apartment. One of the suspects punched the 16-year-old in the face as he was leaving.

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4. Wine Bottle Hold-Up

5.16.14 - At 11:58 AM Worcester Police were called to an apartment on Millbury Street for a report of a Home Invasion.

Two men entered the apartment threatening the tenants with wine bottles. The two men took some items from the apartment and fled the scene.

That same day, Devon Denis, 21, of 60 Forsberg Street, Worcester was charged with Home Invasion for the incident. Police searched for the second suspect but could not locate him.

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5. Shooting on Louise Street

9.22.14- Worcester Police responded to a Louise Street apartment for a reported home invasion and shooting. A 32-year-old male inside the apartment was suffering from a gunshot wound.

Three men entered the apartment through the back door. The men had their faces covered. Two of the three males were armed with handguns. The male suspects were all wearing dark clothing.

According to Worcester Police, the victim, along with several other males, was playing cards when the men entered the apartment. The suspects demanded that everyone empty their pockets. One male at the scene was placed in a choke hold and was forced face down on the floor while having a gun placed against his head. The victim argued with the suspects just before he was shot.

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6. Grow Operation Busted After Invasion

3.7.14- Worcester Police responded to 117 Morningside Road for a reported shooting. A male was suffering from a single gunshot wound.

The search of the dwelling produced marijuana plants in one of the bedrooms. There appeared to be a “grow” operation in the apartment. Based on the nature of the crime and the discovery of the marijuana plants, the residence was secured. Investigators applied for and received a search warrant for the premises.

The search produced approximately 4 to 5 pounds of marijuana and other miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. The findings were consistent with distribution and not for personal use.

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7. Invader Kidnaps Child and Mother

7.20.14 - Worcester Police responded to a Chandler Street apartment building for a report of a kidnapping. According to Worcester Police, Jesus Rodriguez, 22-year-old of 171 Pilgrim Avenue, entered his baby’s mother’s apartment armed with a handgun, pistol whipped a family member of the baby’s mother, pointed the gun at another female inside the apartment and then forced the 19-year-old mother and the 11 month old baby from the apartment. Mr. Rodriguez and the two victims then entered into a waiting livery cab and drove off.

Massachusetts State Police troopers located and stopped the vehicle on the Massachusetts Turnpike. A loaded firearm was recovered in the vehicle. The baby and the baby’s mother were found unhurt.

Mr. Rodriguez was charged with Home Invasion, 2 counts of Kidnapping, Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Child Endangerment, Violation of a Restraining Order, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (gun) and Threatening to Commit a Crime (murder).

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8. Elderly Man Gets Invaded

7.1.14 - An 83-year-old male living on Beaver Brook Parkway had his home invaded four times in June. The home invasions occurred on June 16, June 22, June 25 and June 29.

According to Worcester Police, the suspect in these incidents repeatedly forced his way into the home, brandish a gun and demand cash and personal items from the victim. The suspect rummaged around in the man's home in search of belongings and valuables. During the home invasions there were minimal amounts of cash taken and very few valuables. The victim was not hurt during the incidents.

During the investigation, officers learned that the same suspect broke into the Edgemere Mini Mart located on 447 Park Avenue on June 16.

On Tuesday, July 1, 2014, Lonnie Goyette, 51, of 12 Lakeside Avenue, Apartment 2, Worcester, was charged with (4) four counts of Home Invasion, and Breaking and Entering Into a Building During the Nighttime with Intent to Commit a Felony.

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9. 18-Year-Old Male Invaded at Home

11.12.14 - Worcester Police responded to Henderson Ave for a report of a home invasion. The victim was identified as an 18-year-old male. The male was alert and conscious with an injury to the left side of his face.

According to the victim, an unknown White male wearing a mask entered his bedroom holding a shotgun. The suspect discharged a round into the ceiling while demanding cash. The suspect struck the victim in the face with the shotgun.

The suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. The victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

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10. Man Sprayed in Face with Aerosol Can

10.20.14 - Worcester Police arrived on Mill Street following a report of 70-year-old male being sprayed in the face with content from an aerosol can.

The victim stated that he was sleeping at his home when he saw two men in his living room. One suspect was holding a gun and the other sprayed him in the face with an aerosol can. The two suspects searched his home and took cash and a knife.