Santa Ana - Two homes hit in dawn invasions

By JON CASSIDY
2009-12-12 10:52:53

SANTA ANA – Two men believed to be gang members tried to invade two homes this morning, and succeeded in robbing the resident of one, police said.

Around 7 a.m., two men pounded on the door of a home in the 1600 block of West Highland Street, shining a flashlight, demanding entrance, and claiming to be police officers, Commander Steve Colon of the Santa Ana Police Department said.

“When the victims saw the individuals, they immediately realized they weren’t police, and were probably gang members, based on their appearance,” Colon said.

The would-be robbers were described as male Hispanics in their 20s with shaved heads and numerous tattoos, Colon said.

After the residents yelled that they were going to call police, the two men took off on bicycles.

One was armed with a handgun and one with a rifle, Colon said.

Two men matching the description invaded a home three blocks away 45 minutes later.

Two men entered a home in the 1600 block of West McFadden Avenue through unlocked doors around 7:45 a.m., Colon said.

No weapons were seen during the robbery, but the men threatened the victim and told him to stay put while they rummaged through drawers and cabinets, Colon said.

Nobody was hurt in either incident. It’s not yet known what the men took from the second home, Colon said.

[Original Post]