The RNC is warning residents to keep their doors locked and not answer the door to strangers following what they are calling two random and “heinous” attacks in the capital city.
A man was sent to hospital with stab wounds after a home invasion on Beaumont Street around 7:20 yesterday evening. The culprits banged on the door of a home and forced their way in, where a violent confrontation occurred before the suspects sped away in the residents’ car.
RNC Constable James Cadigan told reporters this morning that the victims on Beaumont Street were a man and woman in their 30s.
Another call came in about 25 minutes later from Maunder’s Lane in the east end where the residents of a home were sent to hospital with injuries following a similar home invasion. The victims on Maunder’s Lane are 88 and 90 years old.
Cadigan says weapons were used, including a knife. He says they’re not sure what kind of other weapons may have been used.
Cadigan described the attacks, which police believe to be random, as “heinous.” He says the hearts of the officers are with the victims, and they support them and will ensure that they bring the individuals “who put them through this to account.”
The stolen vehicle was located around 3:00 this morning in the area of Coaker’s Meadow in the east end.
They’re asking anyone who noticed any suspicious activity, and any and all video from the areas including loitering, trespassing, strange behaviour or vehicle activity from the Beaumont Street, Maunder’s Lane or Coaker’s Meadow areas last night to contact RNC or Crime Stoppers.
Significant resources have been deployed to the case and images of the suspects have been released in hopes of identifying the culprits.
Cadigan also gave a description of the suspects on Beaumont. One man was wearing a dark parka-style jacket with a light-coloured hoodie, a ball cap, jeans and sneakers.The other man was wearing a dark jacket, a ball cap, a blue hoodie, and khakis. Both are young adults @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/KStpNer3Z3
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) September 13, 2022
Last night’s violent attacks have people in both St. John’s neighbourhoods, and the entire city, nervous.
A neighbour of the elderly couple in the east end says the area is normally quiet, but last night’s attack is having a chilling effect on the community.
He calls it a nice, quiet, calm area. The couple has some injuries that they will recover from, but he says it’s the peace of mind and their sense of security that is going to take a long time to heal.
A store owner in the west end, who asked not to be identified, tells VOCM News that the level of crime in the city has gotten worse in recent years.
“It’s scary, very scary,” she says, indicating that she locks her doors when she’s in the car and locks her doors when she’s at home.
She says thieves are getting more emboldened, or desperate.
“They’re getting away with it,” she says. Her store had an armed robbery on the weekend, and the suspect was caught, “but what will he get for it? I don’t know.”
