Two attacked in Friday night home invasion

Two men forced their way into a home in the 700 block of South Shade Avenue early Friday night and attacked the homeowners, an elderly woman and her son.

Police say after the two suspects attacked the victims, they stole some small, personal items and the victims’ car.

The 1994 Ford Focus was found abandoned a short time later near Newtown Estates at 32nd Street and Leonard Reid Avenue.

The two victims were not seriously hurt in the attack.

Police spokesman Capt. William Spitler said the case appears to be unrelated to the series of home invasions in Sarasota and Manatee counties in which a single suspect looks for women alone in their homes and enters through an open window or door.

But, Spitler said it could be related to a violent home invasion Thursday evening on 53rd Street.
In that attack, two men broke into a home and beat and stabbed a man inside. They stole several items before dragging the man outside and driving off with him in his car.

That victim in that case was treated and released from the hospital.

The suspects in that case are described as a white man, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, and a black man, about six-foot-tall, with a slim build.

Anyone with information into either attack is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department at 316-1199, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office at 861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crimestoppers at 366-TIPS.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].