Suspects rob couple of $30K in Oxford Circle home invasion

OXFORD CIRCLE - March 18, 2012 (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating a home invasion and robbery in the city's Oxford Circle section.

Philadelphia police say at 7:12 p.m. the 42-year-old male victim was entering his home on the 1400 block of McKinley Street through an alley when a half dozen masked men ambushed him, pistol whipped him, and forced him into the house.

Once inside, they stole $30,000 in cash and a 9mm handgun.

Late tonight, the victim could be seen through a window holding what appears to be a bag of ice to his head.

The victim's 41-year-old wife was also in the home, but uninjured.

Neighbors gave their reaction to the incident to Action News Sunday night.

"Me and my family are pretty shook up; my grandkids are here. Wow. Wow," neighbor Troy Lumb said.

"I have heard of things happening, but I haven't heard of a home invasion," neighbor Crystal Murray said.

Investigators say the Asian homeowner owns a small business and it appears he was targeted.

In the past, Asian business owners have suffered similar home invasions because there is a perception they're reluctant to use banks and may have large sums of cash.

"They are new to the block, maybe a year or two at the most, don't know them," Lumb said.

The home has a surveillance camera system on its exterior.

Police are reviewing it, but so far video has not been released.

Detectives believe the suspects may have fled in a white van.

"This happened in the middle of the day, so that's a little surprising, but nothing surprises me in any neighborhood," Murray said.

Police say there is a bit of a language barrier they are dealing with right now.

They are still piecing this crime together.

The victim, who suffered the head injury, was treated on site by paramedics.

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philadelphia, pennsylvania, oxford circle, home invasion, robbery, local/state

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