The Turlock Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who committed a brazen daytime home invasion robbery, which forced a young girl to hide in the closet while the suspect ransacked her home.
The burglary turned into a home invasion robbery when the suspect flung open a bedroom closet and found a 13-year-old girl hiding there. The suspect grabbed the girl’s wrist, but she fought back and chased him out of the home as he ran to the waiting getaway car.
The robbery happened around 3:20 p.m. Sunday in the 2600 block of Castleview Drive.
The suspect approached the front door holding a clipboard and a couple of books. He rang the doorbell a couple of times, which set off a bevy of barking from the family dog.
The girl’s father said that after the third ring his daughter got a bad feeling about this stranger at the door and went to hide in the master bedroom closet.
The 13-year-old took a cellphone with her and used it to call 911 when she heard the suspect kick open the front door.
The suspect took a tote bag and began filling it with stolen items as he ransacked the home, including the master bedroom, where he stole some jewelry.
The suspect opened the closet door and found the 13-year-old girl. She was still on the phone with a 911 dispatcher and she began screaming at the intruder. The suspect grabbed her by the wrist and yelled back at her. Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Russ Holeman said the victim attempted to protect herself by hitting the suspect, but that he pushed her down and ran out of the house.
Determined to see that the suspect was fleeing, the 13-year-old chased after him, screaming the entire time as he jumped into a waiting vehicle and it sped away.
Neighbor Calvin Curtin was in his backyard when he heard the girl’s screams.
“We live right by Bristol Park, so at first I thought it was someone in the park, but quickly I realized it wasn’t the sounds of kids playing,” Curtin said.
Within a minute of the suspect fleeing the police arrived at the home and began searching for the robber, but to no avail.
The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male. He is about 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet tall and weighs around 180 to 200 pounds. He has black hair, a medium complexion and an average build. He was wearing a dark shirt and dark shorts.
The vehicle used in the getaway is a white newer model two-door, possibly a Honda Accord.
There was no description of the getaway driver.
Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect is asked to contact Turlock Police Detective Cliff Lewis at 668-5550 or the tip line at 668-5550 ext. 6780 or email tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us.
