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Elyria police say violent carjacking is linked to recent string of armed home invasions

Posted at 6:36 AM, Oct 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-18 06:36:56-04

Elyria police say there have been three home invasions and a related carjacking, all at gunpoint, in recent weeks in the city of Elyria. The most recent one happened Sunday night.

Surveillance video outside Bailey’s Bar showed a violent carjacking in progress.

RELATED: Elyria neighborhoods on edge after violent home invasions

A van pulled up behind a car. The passenger in the van got out, walked up to the car with a gun, struggled with the driver, then pulled the driver out and took off in the car.

Although the video was taken from a distance, Elyria police hope someone can identify the armed robber.

“These are violent individuals,” said Elyria Police Capt. Chris Costantino.

Costantino said police have reason to believe that carjacking is linked to three home invasions in the city.

One of those home invasions happened on Rhode Island Drive.

In that crime, the two gunman took cash, jewelry, a cell phone and took the ring right off the female victim’s hand.

They also bashed the victims in the head with their guns.

Police say this is similar to other home invasions recently.

“They forced their weapons on these people, put the weapons up to their heads, have no hesitation for hitting the people with the weapons, take what they’re given and get out quickly,” Costantino said.

Costantino said he can’t say why at this point of the investigation, but he believes the victims are chosen for a reason.

“I feel, based on information we have that I can’t go into, that these are planned events not random."

Costantino said the car that was stolen was a blue Cadillac CTS, and that a blue Kia minivan was used in one of the home invasions.

Anyone with information about the robbers is asked to call Elyria police at 440-323-3302.