Man severely beaten during home invasion
5:42 p.m. Wednesday, September 24, 2008
“Obviously a home invasion is a pretty violent crime,” said Sgt. Lance Feyh.
And it was no different for the man who lived in an apartment at 716 SW Polk.
Police say the victim was beaten so badly, he suffered severe trauma.
Most victims of other home invasions in the last seven weeks have been lucky.
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If you find yourself in a home invasion situation, police say you should cooperate so you don't get hurt. You can reduce your chances of a home invasion by making changes to your landscape to make your home less inviting. tT find out how, see Marshanna's previous report and get a checklist from the Topeka Police Department.
“Some of those were individuals who have knocked at the door, got an answer from someone at the door and a home invasion occurred,” he said.
But, Topeka Police Sergeant Lance Feyh says this case is different.
“In this particular incident, the home invasion occurred after someone broke into the house and entered the residence,” he said.
Last month, two kids were held at gunpoint while robbers stole a Playstation, games and a laptop. The mother of one child was asleep inside the home during the crime.
But, a few days later, an invasion at another home ended in gunfire. A man answered the door and was shot in the back as he ran away. The suspects entered the house and shot another man on the couch.
“We as citizens need to get dramatically more involved in doing what we can to make ourselves a safer city,” said Barry Feaker with the Safest Capital City team.
Barry Feaker says there are nearly 20 crime fighting strategies in the team's playbook, but not one tackles home invasions. He says the focus has been on reducing car break-ins and recovering stolen property.
But if home invasions keep happening, that could change.
“Not every crime is going to be preventable,” Feaker said. “We're not going to wipe crime off the face of Topeka, Kansas or the earth. That's not going to happen, but we can certainly take a bite out of it, as it says.”
In the meantime, Feyh says make sure your doors and windows are secure and keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
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