RALEIGH -- A 35th armed home invasion with an Asian restaurant owner as the victim is prompting area law enforcement to again make an appeal to the public for possible tips. Multiple law enforcement agencies have partnered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to ask for the public’s help in solving a series of violent crimes that have occurred in 13 counties.

Since December of 2013, 35 armed home invasions have occurred with the same mode of operation. The assailants surprise the owners and their families when they arrive home from the restaurant in the late evening. Three to five armed black males, with their faces covered, attack the victims from behind and assault them until they cooperate. In all cases, cash was the primary item stolen from the victims. Areas affected are: Wayne County (5), Nash/Edgecombe (5), Wake County (4), Craven County (4), Lenoir County (3), Durham County (2), Johnston County (2), Harnett County (2), Onslow County (2), Pitt County (2), Beaufort County (1), Jones County (1), and Wilson County (1).

The 35th armed robbery matching this MO occurred on December 23, 2014 in Wake Forest.

ATF, Craven County Crime Stoppers, Edgecombe/ Nash County Crime Stoppers, and Pitt County Crime Stoppers have combined with the Clayton Police Department and the Tarboro Police Department to offer an $8,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individual(s) responsible for these home invasion robberies.

If you have information concerning these crimes, please call the tip line at 1-800-276-4533.

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Contact: Anthony Jernigan
Phone: (252) 756-4755