ELDERLY LAKE MURRAY MAN INJURED IN DAYLIGHT HOME INVASION ROBBERY

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By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

November 29, 2012 (Lake Murray) – San Diego Police officers apprehended an adult and a juvenile suspected of beating an elderly resident with a pry bar after forcing their way into his home in the 8400 block of Harwell Drive in the Lake Murray area yesterday afternoon in broad daylight.

The victim suffered a serious head injury and injuries to his arms while trying to defend himself, said Watch Commander Dan Lasher.

Officers responded to a pay phone call at 2 p.m. from a witness who reported seeing two white males forcing entry to the home with a pry bar.  Officers with canines detained an adult and a juvenile seen running from the residence. A pry bar and jewelry were recovered.

Officers found the homeowner inside with a serious head injury. His home had been ransacked. The elderly man told police that suspects had attacked him with the pry bar and stolen jewelry.  He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Neighbor Janet Courter told ECM news partner 10 News she had just visited the victim, whose wife died earlier this month, to talk about putting up his Christmas lights.  “"If I would have stayed longer, I would have been in the house with him," she said.

Courter reported hearing that the burglars made this terrifying threat.

"They said, 'Don't call the cops because you'll join your wife'… that's what we were told. We don't know who said it," she added.

Neighbors also say the victim's home was burglarized a few weeks ago when no one was home, 10 News reports.

The identities of the suspects have not been released pending the investigation.


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