Police probe robbery at former target of violent home invasion

Police are investigating an armed robbery at an East Hamilton residence that was the target of a violent home invasion in March.

Four men including one believed to have a handgun showed up at the door of 552 Roxborough Ave. at 10:40 p.m. Saturday demanding money and took off in the tenant’s black Nissan Altima.

“This was obviously targeted,” said Staff Sgt. Steve Hahn of the Hamilton Police Service. “The public isn’t at risk.”

It is the second time the home near Strathearne Avenue, just north of Main Street East, has been attacked in two months. A 34year-old man was seriously injured during a home invasion March 22 at 5 a.m. when two men armed with an edged weapon forced their way into the house demanding drugs and money.

No one was injured in the latest robbery that started when a man in the house opened the door to leave and discovered the four men on the porch. He slammed the door shut, locked it and ran out the back door of the house. Hahn said he did not know if it was the same tenant who was taken to hospital in March covered in blood with non-life threatening injuries.

It is not clear if the men entered the house during Saturday’s robbery or how they got the keys to the car belonging to a woman who lives there.

After both attacks the Hamilton Police Canine Unit searched the area but the suspects were not found in either case. The car has also not been located.

Hamilton police’s tactical unit responded Saturday. In March, the Hamilton Police Forensics Branch and the Hamilton Police ACTION team investigated.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-5462919 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477. Tips can also be made at crimestoppershamilton.com/