Over the past three days, two, off campus, college student housing residences have been forcibly entered by armed intruders. The first incident took place on Sunday evening (09-08-13) at 11:13 p.m in the 1200 block of Vilas Avenue (Greenbush neighborhood). In this incident, two young male suspects, cut a ground screen bedroom window, removed a fan, and entered the home while the residents were inside. The suspects then entered the living room area, displayed a handgun, and ordered the three residents who had been watching TV to "get on the ground." One of the suspects was described as wearing a gray "hoodie" sweatshirt with the hood pulled up over his head. The other suspect was wearing a dark colored "hoodie" sweatshirt with the hood pulled up over his head. The suspects asked for money and for the residents to put their cell phones (I phones) on a nearby coffee table. The suspects next proceeded to unplug various electronic items from the living room and bedrooms of the residence (Playstation 3, laptops, games, etc.) taking all electronics with them upon fleeing residence a few moments later. The suspects in this incident were described as follows:
- Suspect #1: Male / black, 20's, 5'08", 160-170 lbs, dark colored hooded sweatshirt.
- Suspect #2: Male / black, 20's, 5'08", 160-170 lbs, gray hooded sweatshirt.
Early this morning, (09-11-13) at 2:03 a.m., a similar second incident took place in the 1600 block of Adams Street (Vilas neighborhood). In this incident, a female resident was in the process of locking the ground level, street facing, front door of an enclosed front porch when she discovered a young, thin, male suspect in the enclosed porch looking through a large living room window. The suspect was wearing some type of dark colored nylon mask which was covering up his head and face. The female screamed for her roommates to call 911 at which point the suspect became angry and confronted her with a handgun. The female resident next tried to close the screen door, but the suspect verbally threatened to shoot the female and proceeded to forcibly enter the residence. Once inside, the suspect first asked for money, but then observed a MacBook laptop computer on a nearby coffee table and proceeded to unplug it and fled out the same front door he had forcibly entered. The female resident watched as the suspect ran off toward the intersection of Garfield and Adams where she believes he joined up with another individual. The suspect in this incident was further described as follows:
- Suspect #1: Male / black, 18-20 years of age, 5'05", skinny wearing dark shoes, blue jeans, short sleeved white t-shirt with dark design on front. Dark colored nylon mask over head and face.
- Suspect #2: Victim was unable to provide description as this suspect joined suspect #1 at the Vilas-Garfield intersection.
These same two individuals may also be responsible for the late night robbery of two residents who were in their driveway in the 1900 block of University Avenue. On Wednesday evening, Sept 4th, at 11:20 p.m., the two residents were approached by two suspects, one of whom produced a handgun and demanded money and their cell phones. The suspects in this incident were described as follows:
- Suspect #1: Male / black, 18-20 years of age, 5'09", skinny, 140-150 lbs, with a shaved head. Dark clothes and a hooded sweatshirt.
- Suspect #2: Male / black, 18-20 years of age, 5'11", medium build, 160 lbs. Dark clothes and a hooded sweatshirt.
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Both suspects smelled of marijuana according to the victim.
These two recent, armed, home invasions in the Greenbush and Vilas neighborhoods are particularly troublesome to Madison Police. It appears in both instances, ground level homes, occupied by college age residents (both male and female), appear to have been targeted by these suspects because they are likely to possess newer electronics (cell phones, games, laptop computers, etc). Some immediate safety tips we would like to pass along:
- It is important at this time for all students living in the City of Madison neighborhoods adjacent the UW and Edgewood campus area to be on the alert for the above described suspects. Should you believe you see these two suspects, contact the Dane County 911 Center immediately.
- Lock your doors even when you are at home.
- Use any available security features for your windows, especially those at the ground level.
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Talk to your roommates and have a safety plan in place should someone force entry into your home.
For further information regarding the above cases, please contact South District Captain Joe Balles at 267 8687 or by e-mail at jballes@cityofmadison.com. Anyone with information about those who are responsible for these crimes can contact Madison Area Crimestoppers at 608 266 6014 or the South Police District at 608 266 5938.