Here We Go Again.......

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Neighbor expresses fear about break-in by mock policemen
BY Phillip Yates
Morris News SErvice

AMARILLO - The thought of anyone breaking into his home is frightening enough for Dan Johnson.

But the thought of four men breaking into his home and acting as if they are police officers was even more frightening, he said.

"It is just kind of scary," said Johnson, who lives down the block from a home where four men, dressed in T-shirts and yelling that they were the police, broke in Wednesday morning.

"Working at night, I am concerned about my children and my wife," Johnson said. "If an officer knocked on the door, we would answer it."

Police on Thursday were still investigating two home robberies where four men impersonated officers, said Cpl. Jerry Neufeld of the Amarillo Police Department. He said an initial investigation showed the victims seemed to have been targeted.

"Somebody had to have an idea there was a fair amount (of money) in those houses," Neufeld said.

He said the investigation also has shown that the victims are not tied to any criminal activity.

The four men broke into a home just down the street from Johnson about 2 a.m. Wednesday. All the men were armed with pistols as they searched the home, taking an undetermined amount of cash. The residents were home but were not injured.

The faux police then broke into another home about 30 minutes later and pistol-whipped a resident two times. The resident was treated by paramedics and the robbers again made off with an undetermined amount of cash.

Police said the men were wearing masks or something covering their faces.

Although Johnson said there was some fear in the area, he was confident police "will catch the people who are doing this."

"At least I hope so," said Johnson, adding there was a heavy police presence in the neighborhood after the robbery.

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