Monday, May 10, 2010

HPD: Man killed in home invasion after suspect poses as census worker

How many times will this happen during the course of this census? The census workers are required to carry an id badge, it would be wise for everyone to ask to see that badge before allowing someone claiming to be from the census into your home. We can only hope that this incident will prompt news agencies or the federal government to make a PSA about safety to avoid this in the future.

From KHOU

HOUSTON—A man was killed and his family members beaten after three suspects barged into a north Houston home Saturday afternoon, police said.

Investigators said one of the suspects pretended to be a census worker to gain entry into the house, located in the 400 block of Truman.

Family members said the victim’s son opened the door for the suspects, believing they were with the census.

Larry Johnson Jr., the nephew of the victim, said the suspects tied up and beat his cousin and aunt after barging into to the home.

Johnson said his uncle, Reginald "Pete" Haynes, walked in on the crime and was ambushed.

"They tied him up and stabbed him and tried to submerge him in water," Johnson said.

Haynes later died at the hospital.

Family members said the men ransacked the house for two hours.

"They were looking for money and my aunt gave them everything that they had and it wasn’t enough for them," Johnson said.

Neighbor Randell Harmon said he even watched the suspects leave after the crime and had no idea what had happened.

"I saw three gentlemen walk out and I didn’t think anything of it," Harmon said. "They didn’t look at me. They got in the truck and they left."

The incident left people in the community fearful about who might come knocking at their door.

"They’ve taken something precious from us," Johnson said. "They really have."

Neighbors said census-takers started working their street weeks ago.

According to HPD, the suspect who claimed to be a census worker showed no ID badge. Investigators said they don’t have a good description of any of the suspects.

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