Pompano Beach residents held at gunpoint after answering knock on door

Trio of robbers mistake residents for previous tenants, search for guns

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Broward Sheriff's Office detectives are trying to identify three men who held a Pompano Beach family at gunpoint and ransacked their home after the new residents unknowingly opened their door to the trio of crooks.

The home invasion was reported Feb. 1 at 100 SE 10th Ave.

BSO spokeswoman Joy Oglesby said the couple's son had just returned from a nearby store when he heard a knock on the front door. He looked through the peephole, didn't see anyone and opened the door, and three armed men forced their way inside.

Surveillance video of the robbery was released Monday. It shows one of the men covering the peephole with his hand until the door opens.

The family of three was held at gunpoint by one of the men while the other two ransacked the home, looking for a safe, drugs and guns.

"We just moved in today, guys, I swear," a man can be heard saying on the video.

The men eventually got away with cash, an Xbox 360 and a cellphone.

Oglesby said it seemed that the thieves were looking for a previous tenant.

"Where the guns at?" one of the intruders asks.

"There's no guns, man," the resident answers.

Christopher Mills said he opened the door because his brother said he would be right back.

"I thought it was him coming to the door," Mills said.

Mills said he felt like he kept his cool throughout the ordeal.

"But I was pretty terrified," he said.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call BSO detectives at 954-321-4275 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.