Youngstown Police investigating Southside home burglary by masked intruders

YOUNGSTOWN Police are investigating a burglary reported Monday evening at a home on Youngstown’s Southside.

Residents of a West Philadelphia Avenue apartment called police just before 7:30 p.m., reporting that four people wearing black clothing, ski masks, and blue latex gloves kicked in the front door and went upstairs.

According to the report, one intruder pulled a 9mm pistol and struck a male occupant on the head. The assailant reportedly asked in Spanish, "Where's the money you hide in your flag?" The victim told officers she did not hide money, but said the intruders appeared to know the apartment's layout. She also reported that all the intruders had either pistols or tasers.

One of the residents told police the intruders searched the main bedroom, tearing a mantel off the wall and flipping the bed.

No large sums of cash were reported missing, though $250 from a wallet was taken, as well as credit cards, an ID, an iPhone, a passport/VISA, and a Samsung tablet. The suspects reportedly attempted to take a television but dropped it while getting into their vehicle.

Officers found a taser on the steps near the front door and a blue latex glove in the driveway. Both items were collected as evidence.

One of the victims described the burglars as one light-skinned male with blue eyes, two dark-skinned males, one heavier-built female, and one female driver. She described all individuals as sounding Puerto Rican.

A resident told police she believes one of the suspects could be her ex-boyfriend and father of her children, with whom she had an altercation two days before.

Video footage shows a female exiting the driver's seat of a silver sedan and entering the apartment. Shortly after, four people dressed in black with masks are seen leaving the apartment carrying items. They then entered the sedan, which drove east on Philadelphia Avenue toward Market Street. Police did not see any license plates on the vehicle.

Police noted that the male struck on the head did not appear to have injuries and did not report any.,