SCUMBAGS AT LARGE: Several armed thugs busted into the home of a man, his wife and their young child, and forced the woman and her baby into a bathroom, then demanded money and drugs from the man. When the patriarch of the house said he didn't have any, they took his ATM card, and while sticking a gun in his face, forced the man to reveal his PIN number. During this altercation the woman came out of the bathroom saying she needed milk for her baby, at which time one of the crooks punched her in the eye and sent her back to the bathroom. When the robbers finally left, they made off with a video game system, a cell phone, and various articles of clothing.
DEMOLITION DISCO: During the early morning hours, a woman was reportedly shoved and scratched on the nose while dancing at a downtown nightclub. Later that night, while waiting at the bus stop, the woman was again assaulted by the same person, who struck her several times in the head.
BRAZEN BAD GUYS: A convenience store manager reported that a man calmly walked into his store, grabbed an 18-pack of beer, then strolled back outside and into a waiting car that sped away from the scene. In another incident, grocery store employees watched as a man entered the store and walked to the meat department and promptly stuffed two steaks down his pants. As the meat-packing crook made his way toward the exit, an employee stopped him and held him until police arrived.
INVASION OF THE PURSE SNATCHERS: A woman reported that while loading groceries into her car, two females came running up and snatched her purse from the shopping cart. The purse snatchers fled behind the grocery store and police were not able to locate them or the woman's stolen purse.
Blotter items are chosen from the files of the Charlotte Police Department.