Police are looking for help identifying a woman they say forced her way into a Kensington home and tied up the home’s 74-year-old resident before stealing his credit cards and cash.
The home invasion robbery happened Nov. 9 in the 4000 block of Lawrence Avenue.
Police said that at about 3 p.m., the 74-year-old victim heard a knock on his front door. He opened the door to a woman who identified herself as Maria and who asked to use the bathroom. Police said the victim replied “No” and shut the door.
Police said that about 15 minutes later, the woman again knocked on the victim’s front door and asked to use the bathroom. The victim again replied “No,” but police said that this time, the suspect pushed the man, walked into the home and punched the man in the face.
The woman then picked up “a sharp instrument that she found in the residence,” ordered the victim to his bedroom and tied his hands behind his back with items she found in his home, according to police. Police said that she threatened to stab and shoot the man if he resisted. The suspect then stole the man’s bank and credit cards, cash, and personal identification number for his bank accounts.
The victim was able to call police after getting out of the restraints.
Police said detectives obtained surveillance photos of the suspect as she used the victim’s bank and credit cards at stores and an ATM in Wheaton, Rockville and Vienna, Virginia. She’s described as Hispanic with black hair and possibly in her 40s.
Detectives also released surveillance photos of two additional younger suspects, one male and one female, who were caught using the stolen bank and credit cards.
Police said that four residents on Wexford Court, just a block away from Lawrence Avenue, have reported that a woman matching the main suspect’s description had knocked on their front doors since Nov. 9.
When one of the neighbors opened the door to the woman, the woman said she was asking for donations but couldn’t provide details about her charity when asked for more information.
Police are asking anyone with information about any of the three suspects to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-8477. Crime Solvers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrests of the suspects.
From left to right: The home invasion robbery suspect, a second female suspect police say used the stolen bank card and a male suspect police say used the stolen bank card, via Montgomery County Police
