Sheriff Warns Residents not to Open Door to Strangers

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Manatee County detectives believe that two recent home invasions may be related and are asking residents in Edgewater Village to be aware and not open their doors to strangers.

Detectives continue to investigate two recent home invasions which appear to be related. The first one occurred on Sunday, July 17, at about 5:30 p.m. on Waters Edge Way. The second occurred in the same south Manatee County subdivision of Edgewater Village, on Misty Morning Court, on Tuesday at 6 p.m. 

In both incidents, the suspect either knocked on the door or rang the doorbell and then forced his way into the house at gunpoint. The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s or 30s, 6 feet to 6-foot-3 and 170 to 200 pounds. The sheriff's office is asking residents not to open their doors to strangers and to report any suspicious activity.

Detectives have surveillance photos of the suspect from two banks they believe he went to after Tuesday night’s attack. The vehicles in the photos are not related. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 941-747-3011, ext. 2555, or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.