Suspect Sketch Released In String Of Armed Home Invasions Targeting Asians
ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - Washtenaw County authorities have released a sketch of a suspect in a number of home invasions apparently targeting people of Asian or Asian-Indian descent.
The four robberies were reported last week in Canton, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Township and Ypsilanti Township.
In each of the cases, a teenager knocked at the door while two others hid nearby, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office. When the door was opened, all three rushed in, tied up the victims and searched the house for money, jewelry and electronic devices.
All of the victims appear to have been specifically targeted based on their Asian or Asian-Indian descent, according to Sheriff's officials.
"We really want to get the word out to the Asian-Indian community just to be aware and to be mindful," Sherriff's Office spokesman Derrick Jackson said.
In each instance, the suspects — all described as black males with Caribbean/African accents — wore dark clothing and gloves, covered their faces and were armed.
The four instanced reported during from Nov. 24-26, 2014 were:
1. 11/24/2014 in the 2300 block of Trillium Woods in Ann Arbor Township
2. 11/25/2014 in the 6800 block of Plainview in Ypsilanti Township
3. 11/26/2014 in the 45000 block of Lothrop in Canton Township
4. 11/26/2014 in the 1700 block of Arlington in Ann Arbor (city)
The suspect sketch released Tuesday — based on a victim's description — depicts the teenager who knocked on the door.
Jackson said the suspect may be as young as 13 or 14 years old, according to the victim. The other two suspects are adults, he said.
Anyone with information about any of these crimes or who recognizes the man in the sketch is asked to call the Sheriff's office or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. As always, callers to the Crime Stoppers tip line may remain anonymous.