Man, 72, hurt, robbed by intruders in North Springfield

An elderly Springfield man ended up in the hospital after he was attacked Monday night in his home by two robbers, police said.
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Published May 10, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Man, 72, hurt, robbed by intruders in Springfield By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer NORTH SPRINGFIELD — A 72-year-old man was hospitalized this week after he was attacked and robbed at gunpoint by two men who forced their way into his Fairground Road home, according to Springfield police. The man was hit in the head repeatedly with a gun during the incident Monday night, said Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston. The man was taken to Springfield Hospital and he has since been discharged. Johnston said the attack took place near the intersection of Fairground Road and Elm Street. The chief said the attack took place around 10 p.m., when two men came to the man’s door, asking for money because they had run out of gas. The man opened his door slightly to talk to the men, and they forced their way into the house. “They shoved their way in,” said Johnston. They robbed him of his cash, he said. The man was able to call 911 for help after the two men left, he said. “He says he does not know these people,” the chief said, who said police believe they know who did it, but are still investigating. “We are looking for help from the community,” he said. He described his main attacker as 35 years old, with short black hair and speaking with a Russian accent. He couldn’t give a description of the second, shorter man, the chief said. The man didn’t see a vehicle outside his home, and police believe the pair parked their vehicle down the road. The chief urged people to be especially cautious when opening their doors to strangers at night. In fact, he said, he would advise people not to. He said residents should talk to people through their locked door and offer to call police or a wrecker service if people are in trouble. At the least, people should have a safety chain on their doors, he said. “My advice is to be very careful and make sure the door’s well lit, and have a door chain from the inside. It would be better to ask them through the door and not open up the door, “ said Johnston. “That’s what I would do,” he said. Anyone with information should contact the Springfield Police Department at 885-2113.