By CHARITY B. SMITH
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE — A 91-year-old woman on oxygen was robbed of thousands of dollars of jewelry June 23 as she lay bedridden in her Wyandotte house in the 2700 block of Ninth Street.
Police arrested David Connole, 32, shortly afterward two blocks away on the1100 block of Superior, with the jewelry in tow, after a man reported a suspicious person going through back yards.
Connole, an admitted homeless heroin addict, was arraigned June 25 in 27th District Court on charges of first degree home invasion, strong arm robbery, larceny from a building, and habitual offender second offense. His bond has been set at $1 million, 10 percent.
He also was cited for malicious destruction of property, while incarcerated, as officers caught him on camera destroying a mattress.
The victim said the robber told her, “I’m here to clear your house.” He then proceeded to take her two jewelry boxes which contained jewels that belonged to her and her late husband and is valued at $22,783.
The victim then attempted to sit up and told the intruder to get out of her house. He then tried to grab her necklace from around her neck but she hung on tightly to it.
He then ran into the next room and out of the house with the jewelry.
The victim called her nephew who raced over to the his aunt’s residence and called the police within 10 minutes of his aunts frantic call.
The woman was able to give a concrete description of Connole. After Connole was arrested, the woman and her nephew were able to positively identify the jewelry. Connole also was in possession of a credit card with the victims name on it, police said.
Connole denied the charges during a formal interview with police, saying he bought the items from someone who walks the streets, known as “G.”
(Charity B. Smith can be reached at [email protected].)