A gang of men robbed and assaulted an 84-year-old Inkster woman and her 59-year-old disabled daughter in separate instances earlier this month.
According to Inkster police reports, the gang of four or five men took $5,000 from the home of the women at about 9:25 a.m. Aug. 8. One of the suspects approached the women as they were standing in their back yard claiming to be a utility worker. He told the women that there was an issue with the gas and water lines coming into the house.
While the older victim told police she quickly realized the man was not who he claimed, she was fearful of leaving her disabled daughter alone with him in the back yard.
While the women were distracted outside, three or four other men entered the home, found the cash and took the money. The man outside with the victims knocked on the side door of the home to let the men inside know the women would be re-entering the home, the victims told investigators.
The same men returned at about 2:05 p.m. the next day, Sept. 9, and when the older woman saw them on the walkway, she closed the door in an effort to keep them out, according to police reports. The men forced their way inside the home and assaulted her and her daughter, demanding more cash. The victims told police nothing was stolen in the second home invasion as there was no cash left in the house.
Security video provided to police shows the men fleeing the home and getting into a dark-colored Ford vehicle after the first incident and leaving in a white vehicle after the second incident, police said.
Police said they do not believe this is an isolated incident and have warned residents that these men are claiming to be utility workers as they prey on elderly residents in the city.
Inkster police have asked anyone with any information about the incidents or the thieves to contact Det. Sgt. Shawn Vargo at (313) 819-2866 or svargo@cityofinkster.com. Information can be kept confidential, police said.
