Woman Held At Gunpoint, Tied Up During Homer Glen Home Invasion: Sheriff

HOMER GLEN, IL — A 73-year-old woman was held at gunpoint during a home invasion in Homer Glen on Wednesday, the Will County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

At 2:48 p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a reported home invasion on South Deer Path in Homer Glen. The sheriff's office said that the 73-year-old resident reported that she was returning home from grocery shopping and pulling her car into her garage when she was confronted by a man.

The man was wearing a black hoodie and holding a handgun. According to the sheriff's office, the man pointed his handgun at her and demanded cash.

A second man exited a dark-colored Acura that had been following her, the sheriff's office said. Deputies were able to confirm that the car was stolen out of Chicago.

The two men forced the victim into her residence at gunpoint, sat her in a chair, and bound her wrists and ankles using items from inside the home, according to police. They removed a credit card from her purse, demanded her PIN number, and threatened her life, officials said.

After leaving the home, the men withdrew $2,000 from the victim’s account at a bank in Orland Park, the sheriff's office said.

About 20 minutes later, the victim was able to free herself, and seek help from a neighbor. The sheriff's office said deputies immediately began investigating the incident and disseminated information to surrounding law enforcement agencies in an effort to locate the stolen vehicle.

On her Facebook page, Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said that the victim is OK; shaken, but not injured.

Police were able to quickly determine that the men and the vehicle were no longer in the area and were headed back to Chicago. Police were not able to locate the vehicle, the sheriff's office said.

At this time, investigators believe this was a random but targeted due to the victim's age, according to police.

"We remind the public to remain alert and aware of your surroundings, especially when arriving home. If you observe suspicious individuals or vehicles in your neighborhood, please contact law enforcement immediately," the sheriff's office said.