Police search for suspect in home invasion, stabbing
Melrose Police released new surveillance video showing the man wanted for stealing two vehicles and attacking a young woman during a home invasion early Wednesday morning. Police Chief Michael Lyle said the first stolen car traveled less than 100 yards before coming to a stop because the key fob was not inside the vehicle. “Where the first stolen vehicle was, the woman ran out of the house screaming when she heard her car start,” Lyle said. “Obviously this woman was quite angry. His neighbors came out and they lost him.” A camera, mounted on the side of a house overlooking the driveway, shows someone running past with a bag in their hand. Police say this figure was the car thief. At least one other person can be seen at the intersection in the background chasing. A second stolen vehicle was later driven into another community. The chief did not say where. The same man allegedly attacked a 19-year-old woman inside a house on Lynde Street around 2:50 a.m., Lyle said. Investigators believe the man entered the house and into the room of the victim while she slept. He woke the victim and demanded items, which led to a physical confrontation. He was sleeping at the time of the home invasion and was awakened by the screams of his daughter.'” He has my wallet! He has my wallet!” And then she turned around, came towards me. And when she came to me, she felt her throat. And when she felt her throat, her finger went in where she was stabbed,” Westgate said. Westgate said her daughter told her she woke up to the suspect standing over d her with a knife. The suspect had already reached into the teenager’s wallet and told her to give him the keys to her car. The young woman then fought back, and that’s when the suspect attacked her , according to Westgate. He said his daughter suffered multiple injuries. “The stab wound to the throat. She was cut on the back of the head. She has this gash on the top of her head, and she also has a puncture wound in her shoulder,” the victim’s father said. Westgate said his daughter was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital by first responders of Melrose. She is now recovering at home. The home invasion suspect is also suspected of having stolen two vehicles. In each case where the suspect’s break-in attempts have been successful, including at the Westgate home, the Police said the front doors remained unlocked. Lyle urged all residents to lock their vehicles and homes, but added that he believed this was a rare and random act. “Extremely rare, very rare, in all my years I can’t think of a home invasion in Melrose,” he said. The chief said detectives were already following several tips. He said the investigation included another community and they did not believe do not. “Surrender before something happens to you or you really do something that you can’t come back from,” Lyle said in a message to the suspect. police at 781-665-1212.
Melrose Police released new surveillance video showing the man wanted for stealing two vehicles and attacking a young woman during a home invasion early Wednesday morning.
Police Chief Michael Lyle said the first stolen car traveled less than 100 yards before coming to a stop because the key fob was not inside the vehicle.
“Where the first stolen vehicle was, the woman ran out of the house screaming when she heard her car start,” Lyle said. “Obviously this woman was pretty angry. Her neighbors came out and they lost her.”
A camera, mounted on the side of a house overlooking the driveway, shows someone running past with a bag in hand. The police said that figure was the car thief. At least one other person can be seen at the intersection in the background chasing.
Later, a second stolen vehicle was driven to another community. The chef didn’t say where.
The same man allegedly attacked a 19-year-old woman inside a Lynde Street home around 2:50 a.m., Lyle said.
Investigators believe the man entered the victim’s house and bedroom while she was sleeping. He woke the victim up and demanded items, which led to a physical confrontation.
“I give her a lot of credit, she fought back and that kid got away,” police chief Michael Lyle said.
William Westgate, the victim’s father, said he was asleep at the time of the home invasion and was awakened by his daughter’s screams.
“’He has my wallet! He has my wallet!’ And then she turned around, came towards me. And when she came to me, she felt her throat. And when she felt her throat, her finger went in where she was stabbed,” Westgate said.
Westgate said her daughter told her she woke up to the suspect standing over her with a knife. The suspect had already reached into the teenager’s wallet and told her to give him her car keys.
The young woman then fought back, and that’s when the suspect attacked her, according to Westgate. He said his daughter suffered multiple injuries.
“The stab wound to the throat. She was cut on the back of the head. She has this gash on the top of her head, and she also has a puncture wound in her shoulder,” the father said. of the victim.
Westgate said her daughter was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital by Melrose first responders. She is now recovering at home.
The home invasion suspect is also suspected of stealing two vehicles. In each case where the suspect’s attempted break-ins were successful, including at the Westgate home, police said the front doors remained unlocked.
Lyle urged all residents to lock their vehicles and homes, but added he believed it was a rare and random act.
“Extremely rare, very rare, in all my years I can’t think of a home invasion in Melrose,” he said.
The chief said detectives were already following several tips. He said the investigation included another community and they did not believe the suspect was a resident of Melrose.
“Surrender before something happens to you or you really do something that you can’t come back from,” Lyle said in a message to the suspect.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call police at 781-665-1212.