Maplewood police are asking for the public's help in finding two men and a woman who allegedly robbed a 75-year-old woman and then choked her to the point of unconsciousness.
Investigators are also trying to determine whether the home invasion robbery Saturday is linked to the burglary of a nearby home in late December.
According to a news release: Police were called to the 1700 block of Gervais Avenue about 1 p.m. Saturday for a robbery. The woman told police that she was in her car about to leave when she went back into her home to retrieve an item she had forgotten. Her doorbell rang.
She answered the door, and a woman asked to use her phone. The 75-year-old said she was about to leave, and turned down the request.
The woman then pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the victim, and entered the victim's home. The female suspect placed a call on her cellphone, and two men entered the home. According to police, one of the men bound the victim's hands while the other "ransacked" the home, taking jewelry, credit cards, keys and the woman's driver's license. Before leaving, one of the men directed the victim to get on the floor before wrapping a piece of clothing around her neck and choking her until she was unconscious. The woman sought help at a neighbor's home after she regained consciousness, police said.
Anyone with information can call 651-767-0640 or 911. Anonymous text message tips can be sent by texting "Maplewood" and the information to TIP 411.
