Police: 6 Masked Men Break Into Port Vue Home, Pistol-Whip Occupant
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PORT VUE (KDKA) -- Police say six masked men broke into a Port Vue home, attacked the occupant and robbed him early Sunday morning.
James Cappello says his brother was the victim of a home invasion.
"I just wish he has a gun or something to defend himself. I just feel like he was there scared and alone while there were six guys against him," said Cappello.
Allegheny County Police say six masked men broke into the victim's home on New York Avenue in Port Vue around 1:30 Sunday morning. Cappello said his brother heard a loud bang.
"My brother, by the time, he turned around, he went into his room and jumped on the bed. They held him down, started beating him and asked him where the TV is," Cappello said.
Cappello said the men also burned a substance into his brother's back.
Police said the men reportedly pistol-whipped the 32-year-old victim and taped his hands, then took off with the 50-inch TV.
"He just won this TV at a work raffle on Friday night, so either someone he worked with saw him win the TV or Friday night, when we dropped him off at his house, someone in neighborhood saw him," Cappello said.
Cappello said the men also took off with Christmas presents, all for his brother's 7-year-old son, who was staying with his grandma the night of the invasion.
In addition to the home invasion, neighbors say two homes were broken into over the last couple of months on the same street.
"The first one was on the corner, her house twice, this guy across street was Thanksgiving weekend," said one neighbor who didn't want to be identified.
"They think they just ransacked and went through the one lady's stuff, through bags and boxes looking, and [at] his house [they] went through the upstairs bedroom window and out front door to leave," the neighbor said.
Police said the 32-year-old victim refused treatment at the scene.
Until the men are caught, Cappello said his brother is staying elsewhere.
"I just wish I could get locked in a room for five minutes with all six of you by myself. I'd make you pay for it, all of you," said Cappello.
Detectives from the General Investigations Unit of the Allegheny County Police are continuing their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the County Police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
