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3 masked men invade family's apartment in Statesville, police say

STATESVILLE, N.C. — Police are stepping up patrols after another violent home invasion Thursday night in Statesville.

The victim, who was too shaken to show her face, told Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty that three young men forced their way into her family’s apartment on Inglewood Road in west Statesville.

“My God, what is going to happen? What’s happening? I got the girls into my room and got the door shut and locked, trying to calm them down,” she said.

Police said the three men were wearing handkerchiefs over their faces when they knocked on the door and then tried to rob the family. They demanded money at gunpoint and struck the victim’s fiancé over the head. But he managed to fight back and forced the group back out the door.

Police determined the gun was an air soft pistol.

The residents who live at the apartments, which are government funded, said they are not allowed to have guns for protection.

“The catch-22 witH that is... a lot of the crime seems to happen in areas like this. And it is the very place you are not allowed to arm and protect yourself,” resident James Thompson said.

The news of the home invasion has neighbors including Misty Fields on edge.

“Keep my doors locked and stay to myself. That’s all I can do,” Fields said.

“Do you worry about your safety?” Dave asked.

“Of course. I’ve got three kids,” Fields answered.

The victims hope police will get a break in the case soon and make an arrest.

“What is going on with people? Why can’t people respect people? Everybody works hard for what they have. It may not be much but it’s ours,” the victim said.

There have been several home invasions in Statesville in the past month. One investigator told Channel 9 there may be different groups of young men behind the home invasions.

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