A trio of men treated themselves to a man’s wallet Saturday when they robbed a contracted painter at gunpoint while he was working in an unoccupied house.
The man was painting alone in the back bedroom of an unsold house on the 500 block of Eighth Street North when three black males wearing black robes, surgical masks and turbans entered the home just after 9:30 p.m., according to Columbus Police Department reports.
The painter initially thought his partner or boss had entered the home until the men appeared and brandished a nickel-plated pistol. They took an undisclosed amount of cash from the painter and forced him into a bathroom before fleeing the house.
A neighbor who saw the three men in the area noted the men seemed too big to be trick-or-treaters.
A similar incident occurred Friday at 7:30 p.m. at 901 11th St. S.
Three black males dressed in black clothes and black ski masks knocked on the home’s door and forced their way inside while pointing a gun at the resident.
When the man told the assailants he didn’t have any money in the home, they went through the house and stole a house phone.
No injuries were reported in either incident. The CPD declined to speculate whether or not the two incidents were related.
The following other incidents were reported by the CPD:
Officers were dispatched to Baptist Memorial Hospital –Golden Triangle Sunday at 12:56 a.m. in response to an aggravated assault at the Elks Lodge at 918 16th St. N.
The victim reported being attacked by her girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend, who struck her repeatedly in the face and head. The victim will require surgery to recover from her injuries.
Officers were dispatched to the Trotter Convention Center at 402 Second Ave. N. at 7 p.m. Sunday in reference to burglary of an auto.
Entry was gained through an unlocked door and a cell phone was taken.
Officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Avenue A Sunday at 10:15 a.m. in reference to burglary of an auto.
The burglary occurred Saturday night at the Elks Lodge. Entry was gained by breaking the rear window. Two purses containing an undisclosed amount of cash were stolen.
Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Constance Lane Sunday at 1 a.m. in reference to burglary of an auto.
No signs of forced entry were discovered. An in-dash CD player was stolen.
Punks | 11/3/2009 2:22:00 PMmark as inappropriate If police would get back on the streets then this would stop.
The punks are winning.
Aaron | 11/3/2009 4:59:00 PMmark as inappropriate CRIMINALS ARE TAKING OVER COLUMBUS. IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE!
skintback | 11/3/2009 7:15:00 PMmark as inappropriate arm yourselves and start shooting these butt monkeys !
SpecOps | 11/3/2009 8:40:00 PMmark as inappropriate The crystal meth outbreak is 60% cause of the crime wave based on statistics. I disagree with the comment by user (skinback), because the words used are obviously racial for one. The number 2 reason is if you shoot an intruder you better do it while they are in your home (because you might find yourself doing time) and not when they leave and if you miss they might shoot you. The best thing to do is call the police and try to have a real good disciption of the criminals, and ciminals come in the form of many different nationalities and races (just look at the news).
signcutter | 11/3/2009 11:09:00 PMmark as inappropriate SpecOps : Butt monkey is not a racial term, Mr. Sensitive, it is more along the lines of calling someone a dumb a--. And if you had read the article you would have read that the suspects were black males. How many black meth addicts have you ever heard of. I am sure that there may be a few, but in over twenty years of working the streets I have arrested only one (and I have made a lot arrests) . Meth is mainly a white/Hispanic drug. When it comes to racial matters people on these strings are sure quick to run there mouths without knowing what they are talking about. With a name like SpecOps I sure expect better. Don't be so ready to call comments that you don't understand racist. It makes you look like a butt monkey.
signcutter | 11/4/2009 12:18:00 AMmark as inappropriate Sorry about the grammatical errors,
I posted before I proof read.
Andy | 11/4/2009 2:56:00 PMmark as inappropriate Break in my house and your throat will be slit
concerned | 11/4/2009 5:43:00 PMmark as inappropriate i walk the area between the library and lee park for exercise often. yesterday, i encountered three middle aged men dressed in all black walking the street between harvest church and 8th street north. a fourth person, a female who was also in all black, road up on a bicycle. their mischievous laughter and behavior made me feel uncomfortable enough to quicken my pace and try to get out of view. after reading this article, i can't help but wonder if they were "casing the neighborhood."
