Winnetka police are asking the public for assistance in their continuing investigation of a March 8 home invasion in which a resident of the 700 block of Rosewood Avenue was held at gunpoint.
The resident was confronted inside the home as suspects demanded specific items, police said. The victim was able to escape and contact authorities.
On March 11, Police Chief Brian O’Connell issued a community letter asking area residents to review security camera footage to see if video is available of the suspects, who were believed to be in a black Acura RDX SUV without license plates.
O’Connell asked residents to pay special attention to the period between 4 and 6 p.m. March 8, when police say the incident occurred.
“We have reason to believe the vehicle and suspects described may have been present — either driving or parked — on neighboring side streets during this period of time,” O’Connell wrote.
Police initially reported six suspects but now believe there were five.
One suspect was described as wearing a black Nike face gaiter, a black sweatshirt with multiple unknown logos on the front and back, dark-colored pants, purple surgical gloves, white socks and gray flip-flops. He was carrying a brown Outback Steakhouse takeout bag.
A second suspect wore a black sweatshirt with the hood up, gray sweatpants and light-colored gym shoes. A third suspect had dreadlocks and was wearing a red zippered hoodie, white undershirt, ripped light-colored jeans, gym shoes and a black ski mask.
The fourth suspect wore a black ski mask, a black hooded sweatshirt, blue skinny jeans and white gym shoes. The fifth suspect wore a light-colored jacket with dark pants and shoes and purple surgical gloves.
“This is an active investigation, and we are pursuing many investigative leads, using the best technology available, and tirelessly working to identify the individuals responsible so that they can be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” O’Connell wrote.
“We are also being assisted by several law enforcement partners.”
Anyone with evidence, including photos, video or witness accounts, is encouraged to contact Winnetka police at 847-501-6034 or police@winnetka.org.
Retired FBI agent Ross Rice said the request for surveillance footage suggests investigators may be seeking additional evidence beyond what was gathered at the scene.
“If they can find surveillance footage showing that vehicle coming or going at a certain time, it may capture a license plate or images of the occupants before they put a mask on,” Rice said. “Maybe there was a second car driven by an accomplice that they planned to use as a getaway vehicle after ditching the first one. There are a lot of possibilities.”
Rice said time- and date-stamped images are especially valuable to investigators.
He added that while home invasions of this nature are rare, they are often targeted crimes.
“The commonalities are they generally target their victims, look for areas where they believe there will be a financial payoff and try to plan their escape,” Rice said, adding that suspects may scout homes for security cameras.
Law enforcement also looks for similarities between crimes to determine whether they are part of a broader pattern, Rice said.
“It’s like bank robberies,” he said. “If people commit these crimes and are successful, they may continue as long as they believe they can get away with it.”
Rice noted that the increased use of residential security cameras has become a significant asset for police in recent years.
“Most people, if they can help solve a crime like that, are going to do it because they could be next,” he said. “You want to get people like that off the street.”
Rice added that if one suspect is arrested in connection with another crime, it could lead to additional arrests.
“They are going to play ‘Let’s Make a Deal.’ That is their get-out-of-jail card,” he said. “A lot of times that’s how cases get solved.”
