If ever there was a perfect illustration of the need for a HD weapon and plan, this story from the Indianapolis Star on Jan. 24 shows it. This incident occurred at 11:30 am with the assailant actually looking for homes that were occupied. There would have had a totally different (and much more satisfying) ending if the old man simply had a holstered gun attached to his wheelchair. The story concludes with an IMPD's Lt.'s recommendation for fellow homeowners: Don't answer your door!
Intruder beats, robs elderly couple in Eastside home
Police say man forced his way into home on Eastside; elderly residents hospitalized
A 74-year-old woman and her husband were in Methodist Hospital on Friday after she tried to fight off an intruder who beat and robbed the couple in their Eastside home.
"I'm just grateful that it's not worse than it was," said Robin Ambegia, daughter of Freda and Louis Blanchard. "They will be OK, and I hope (Mom) is emotionally OK after this."
According to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department reports, a man knocked on the front door of the Blanchards' home in the 5200 block of East Ninth Street about 11:45 a.m. Freda Blanchard opened the inside door but left the outer door closed. The man forced open the outer door and pushed her into the house, the police report stated.
Blanchard grabbed the man's sweatshirt, and both fell to the floor. She told police she kicked the man's groin on the way down.
The man implied that he had a gun and demanded money and jewelry, police said. Blanchard gave him her purse and told the man there was no jewelry in the home. The man began punching her in the face, police said.
"We don't have any jewelry -- we're simple people," Ambegia, 42, said. "My dad came in to help her; he's in a wheelchair, and (the man) just whaled on him."
Louis Blanchard, 80, has one leg and uses a wheelchair.
Both victims suffered broken noses. Louis Blanchard had a deep cut over his right eye and swelling so severe that he could not open his left eye. Freda Blanchard suffered swelling to her face and eyes.
The Blanchards were listed in stable condition at Methodist.
The man escaped with Freda Blanchard's purse, which contained her identification, credit cards and about $150.
"Mom's feeling really guilty because she answered the door," Ambegia said.
The attack has shaken the feeling of safety in the neighborhood, said Jeff Stevenson, who lives on the same block as the Blanchards.
"It's alarming," said Stevenson, 47. "It's really a safe neighborhood. We know our neighbors. Everybody looks out for each other."
Police searched for fingerprints and other evidence at the scene. Detectives interviewed neighbors, and extra officers were deployed to the area, Lt. Jeff Duhamell said. "This individual may have been targeting some other elderly people in the area," Duhamell said. He urged residents to use caution when someone knocks on their door. "Look before you answer, and if you don't recognize the person, don't answer the door," Duhamell said.
• Call Star reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2761.
Intruder beats, robs elderly couple in Eastside home
Police say man forced his way into home on Eastside; elderly residents hospitalized
A 74-year-old woman and her husband were in Methodist Hospital on Friday after she tried to fight off an intruder who beat and robbed the couple in their Eastside home.
"I'm just grateful that it's not worse than it was," said Robin Ambegia, daughter of Freda and Louis Blanchard. "They will be OK, and I hope (Mom) is emotionally OK after this."
According to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department reports, a man knocked on the front door of the Blanchards' home in the 5200 block of East Ninth Street about 11:45 a.m. Freda Blanchard opened the inside door but left the outer door closed. The man forced open the outer door and pushed her into the house, the police report stated.
Blanchard grabbed the man's sweatshirt, and both fell to the floor. She told police she kicked the man's groin on the way down.
The man implied that he had a gun and demanded money and jewelry, police said. Blanchard gave him her purse and told the man there was no jewelry in the home. The man began punching her in the face, police said.
"We don't have any jewelry -- we're simple people," Ambegia, 42, said. "My dad came in to help her; he's in a wheelchair, and (the man) just whaled on him."
Louis Blanchard, 80, has one leg and uses a wheelchair.
Both victims suffered broken noses. Louis Blanchard had a deep cut over his right eye and swelling so severe that he could not open his left eye. Freda Blanchard suffered swelling to her face and eyes.
The Blanchards were listed in stable condition at Methodist.
The man escaped with Freda Blanchard's purse, which contained her identification, credit cards and about $150.
"Mom's feeling really guilty because she answered the door," Ambegia said.
The attack has shaken the feeling of safety in the neighborhood, said Jeff Stevenson, who lives on the same block as the Blanchards.
"It's alarming," said Stevenson, 47. "It's really a safe neighborhood. We know our neighbors. Everybody looks out for each other."
Police searched for fingerprints and other evidence at the scene. Detectives interviewed neighbors, and extra officers were deployed to the area, Lt. Jeff Duhamell said. "This individual may have been targeting some other elderly people in the area," Duhamell said. He urged residents to use caution when someone knocks on their door. "Look before you answer, and if you don't recognize the person, don't answer the door," Duhamell said.
• Call Star reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2761.
