Elderly Man Robbed In His Home

Police need your help finding a woman who may have helped two men commit a home invasion and rob a 76 year old man.  It is the second home invasion in Chattanooga in three days.

Two suspects are behind bars at the Hamilton County Jail, after police say they caught them at the home they'd just robbed Monday night.  Now, they're looking for a third suspect, who they say set up the victim, and left the elderly man looted and laying on the floor.

Charles Johnson is 76 years old and says he's lived a full life.  But, he says when he let a woman inside Monday night to use the bathroom, he had no idea what was coming next.  "She went to the bathroom, messing with her hair and everything and the dude broke in."

Johnson says that man yelled at him, and shoved him to the floor.  "He pushes and everything and makes me lay down on the floor and searches the house.  I know he came in and I hadn't been knowing him and he said don't look at me, don't look at me."

Johnson says he went to get the cash the man demanded, and handed it over, but it wasn't enough, so the suspect swiped some alcohol as well.  "I had about 700 dollars. Yeah, and 3 bottles of whiskey."

That's when police say a neighbor noticed the intruders and came to help.  Chattanooga Police Spokesperson Jerri Weary says, "The neighbor next door observed a female and another unknown male enter into the house and at first didn't think anything of it, but after hearing some yelling went to check on his neighbor."

Police say Sylvester Kirkwood and Maurice Flanigan, then ordered that neighbor to the floor as well, and robbed him.  But they didn't get far, police say the suspects left the home, and Johnson called 911.  When officers responded both men were still nearby.  Weary says they were then arrested and charged with robbery, theft over 500 dollars, and possession of crack cocaine.

Johnson says he lives alone, and lives well, and worries that's why he was targeted.  Weary adds. "You don't know if their intent is to come in and take what they want and they leave or if they want to do harm, in this situation both were able to escape without harm and we are thankful for that."

Police say they made the arrests just down the street from Johnson's home and they found all the stolen items in the car.  Police tell us even though there have been several home invasions in the past few days, they have not seen an increase.

They do warn homeowners to be extra cautious around the holiday season.