Masked, armed robbers terrorize elderly residents inside Crestview home

Several masked and armed suspects forced their way into a home on Lake Ridge Road in Winnipeg’s west suburbs late on Monday, terrorizing the elderly residents as they robbed the place.

Winnipeg Police Service major crimes investigators, who are asking the public for assistance, are trying to identify the suspects and learn about their movements in the area before and after the robbery, said police spokesman Const. Stephen Spencer.

“It would definitely help to have some more information as to who the individuals are. It would be great if somebody had video of the individuals prior to arriving at this location, when they weren’t wearing face coverings, or after,” said Spencer.

“If neighbours in the area maybe noticed something suspicious, around the Lakeridge Park area… around that time of night, if they did see something suspicious, definitely come forward — it could be helpful with solving this case.”

Patrol officers raced to the home on the 300 block of Lake Ridge at about 11:50 p.m. Monday, where they spoke with the four elderly residents.

They told police that as many as four suspects, wearing masks and carrying various weapons, busted in the house’s rear door and spent about 10 minutes searching for valuables.

One of the suspects entered a bedroom and dragged an elderly woman from her bed to the floor, leaving her with minor injuries.

She did not need medical care, police said.

The suspects made off with a purse containing personal belongings and identification cards. Spencer said he did not believe anything else was stolen.

Police can’t confirm whether the home was randomly selected or targeted specifically, Spencer said.

Such home invasions are “always concerning to us, as police, and to the community,” he said.

Investigators believe the suspects walked up to the residence from the area of Lakeridge Park, based on the residents’ recollection of events and the deployment of a police dog which tracked in that direction.

Police are asking for anyone with information on the robbery, or who might have potentially relevant dashcam, security or cellphone video from around the time of the incident to call the major crimes office at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

erik.pindera@winnipegfreepress.com