Armed bandits force way into Radnor home, terrorize Asian family

Breaking News Desk

Posted: June 08, 2012

Three masked men surprised a dentist and his daughter as they arrived home in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Wednesday night, forced the victims inside at gunpoint, bound them, and ransacked the residence.

Police believe it is the latest in a string of similar recent home invasions targeting business owners of Asian descent in Philadelphia and it suburbs.

Radnor police say the incident began about 11:30 p.m. at the home on the 100 block of Brooklea Road in the township's Rosemont section as the dentist and his daughter, who is in her 20s, were coming home from Philadelphia. Sgt. Andrew J. Block said the father, who has offices in Northeast Philadelphia and Coatesville, was entering the home through the garage when a gunman burst in and forced him inside. The daughter was also forced inside by the bandits, who were brandishing handguns, wearing face masks and baseball caps — one of which was a New York Yankees hat.

Inside, the father and daughter were bound with plastic ties, as was the mother, who was already at home. The bandits ransacked the house, and stole an undisclosed amount of cash and jewelry, Block said.

The victims gave these descriptions of the suspects:

A heavyset black male, 30-35 years of age, about 5'7” to 5'9”, and wearing a gray Polo sweatshirt. A thin black male, in his late teens or early 20s, wearing a red, long sleeve T-shirt. The third is described only as a black male. It is not known how the men fled the scene.

Block said the region appears to be experiencing an uptick in home invasions targeting Asians. He said a similar rash of such crimes occurred in 2009 and 2010, but abated after a crackdown involving local law enforcement agencies and federal authorities. Once again, Block said, the issue has become a priority.

"Law enforcement has endeavored to catch them," Block said, "and we will."

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Radnor Police Department's Investigations Unit at 610-688-0503.