Armed home invasion rattles Lynchburg neighborhood

[DaveH]

Armed home invasion rattles Lynchburg neighborhood | WSLS 10

Armed home invasion rattles Lynchburg neighborhood

LYNCHBURG NEWS & ADVANCE
Published: January 29, 2009

An armed home robbery disturbed a usually peaceful city neighborhood Tuesday night, bringing police to the area and shaking up residents.

According to a news release from the Lynchburg Police Department, the incident happened at about 9:15 p.m., in the 200 block of Reno Drive, in the Old Graves Mill Road area.

One of two residents in the home answered the door and was met by two men, one armed with an “assault-type” rifle, according to the release, and wearing a mask. The other suspect was unarmed, police said.

Police said that another suspect — who was not armed but participated in the robbery — has been identified, although police are not yet releasing that suspect’s name.

Cindy Barber, a nearby neighbor, said Wednesday that she was watching an action movie with her husband when she heard the shots.

“I heard one shot, which I kind of dismissed as a cracking branch or something,” she said, referring to the ice that had accumulated on the trees.

“Shortly after, like about 10 seconds, I heard two more shots,” she said. “Bam, bam! And that sounded like gunfire.”

No one was injured during the robbery, police said.

The victims said the intruders left the scene in what appeared to be a white Dodge Intrepid, according to police.

Barber, who has lived at her house for about 10 years, said neighbors hope the robbery was an isolated incident.

“I’m surprised that this has happened, and I don’t know what we can really do about it,” Barber said.

She described the neighborhood as quiet. She said neighbors have talked about the crime and are hoping to keep a better watch on the neighborhood, to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

“Just the fact that we’re all speaking with each other and communicating is important, and is reassuring,” she said.

Barber said though the neighbors are taking the incident seriously, she isn’t planning to do things much differently than she has for the past 10 years.

“I think because it’s just the one incident,” she said, “I’m not going to put my house up for sale or anything.”

Anyone with information on the incident should call the Lynchburg Police Department at 455-6054 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900.

Want to bet that the 's

“I’m not going to put my house up for sale or anything.”

Includes or doesn't include ?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[JOHNSMITH]

I'm still surprised there are people who just open doors without using the peephole, or looking out the window, or SOMETHING. Some people will just open the door as wide as it will open whenever anyone, whoever it is, knocks or rings the doorbell.

[Rmac58]

I'm still surprised there are people who just open doors without using the peephole, or looking out the window, or SOMETHING. Some people will just open the door as wide as it will open whenever anyone, whoever it is, knocks or rings the doorbell.

Yeah, innocence lost.

[Tubby Rower]

Reno Drive isn't in a bad area. But then again the BGs don't always feed on just local cuisine either. Between this, and a recent shooting at the city library, I might even be able to get my wife to start carrying. She takes my son to the library for some of the programs. Unfortunately the library isn't the best part of town to be in.

Barber, who has lived at her house for about 10 years, said neighbors hope the robbery was an isolated incident

Isn't the first in a series always an isolated incident??

[bandit383]

You guys missed the "assualt type rifle"...another media dig for AWB.

Rick

[Sticks]

No, I didn't. I already got nipped in another thread for griping about the media fear mongering by placing emphasis on that little tidbit.

[tomcatg]

I lived in the 300 block of Reno Drive in the late 70's and it was an upper middle class neighborhood then. A doctor lived across the street and the last time I was in that area it didn't look bad at all...

[lacrosse50]

I live in a decent middle class neighborhood with a "neighborhood watch" sign here and there. I asked about it when we moved in and found out it was a defunct org. I'm trying to get something started, but I run into the same mentality as the article..."Can't happen here / nothings happened yet / don't want to change my routine". Talk about aggravating.

It's unfortunate that it takes multiple robberies/rapes/murders/etc for the sheeple to open their eyes.

[Guardian]

I might give people a hard time about carrying at home and such, but I actually do believe in keeping one close by where I'm sitting or if I have to answer the door, it's at my side and I always ask who's there if the door is shut, if open, I keep the glass door locked (my wife is anal on me with that LOL). So I can see, but my weapon is sitting right next to me out of sight.

I agree, there is no safe place now a days, some are safer then others by location alone, but no places is 100% safe anymore. Heck I finally convinced my mother in law to let me show her how to use the Mossberg she had, it's locked, loaded and ready to rock for her. Going to buy her a small 38 that she can handle better.

[bandit383]

No, I didn't. I already got nipped in another thread for griping about the media fear mongering by placing emphasis on that little tidbit.

..with tubbies :))

Rick