Man beaten, robbed during home invasion

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - For the second time in a week, armed intruders have broken into homes on the east side. This time a man, home alone, was tied up and beaten.

Jose Velasquez, 48, woke up to three robbers inside his house, one holding a gun to his head at around 2 a.m. Monday.

Police said one of three suspects kicked in Velasquez's front door, demanding drugs or money. They tied Velasquez up with an electrical cord and threw him to the floor

"Kicking the guy, hitting the guy," reports IMPD Sgt. Matt Mount. "He stated he was a painter. He didn't have any drugs, he didn't have any money. They ended up ransacking the house."

While one suspect kept an eye on Velasquez, the others took a plasma TV and a computer. Police later found the items hidden in an alley.

As they left the house the intruders threatened to return and kill Velasquez if he called police.

The suspects did get away with the man's wallet and a $750 paint sprayer Velasquez used in his painting business.

Medics treated Velasquez on the scene, but his injuries did not require a trip to the hospital.

"Unfortunately he couldn't get a real good description on these guys," said Sgt. Mount. "Because the lights were off and they had a flashlight in his face pretty much the whole time."

I-Team 8 wanted to see what sort of police runs were made on this particular block in 2009 and searched incident reports for all 32 homes on the street.

I-Team 8 discovered reports of shots fired, disturbances, larceny, burglary, even another armed robbery right next door to the victim's house.