By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Niles Police are investigating three recent home invasions, the latest occurring Wednesday night at about 11 p.m. in the 1200 block of 17th Street.
In a press release issued this morning, Niles City Police Chief Richard Huff said the home invasions have taken place during the last three weeks.
During the first two, no one was injured.
However, during Wednesday night's invasion, the suspects restrained the homeowner, who suffered minor injuries.
The first of the three home invasions happened April 25 at the home of Terry Benish of Niles in the 1600 block of Sioux Trail.
Two suspects held Benish at gunpoint and demanded money and weapons. However, he was not injured during the attack.
The second home invasion, the press release said, happened on May 12 at 1:55 a.m. at a home in the 1600 block of Cherry Street. The homeowner was held at gunpoint by three suspects, who searched the home for valuables. However, the homeowner was not injured.
Huff said in his press release that in each case, homeowners heard knocking on the doors or windows and either opened the door or, when the door was not opened by the homeowner, the door was forced open by the suspects.
Huff reminds Niles residents to keep the doors and windows of their home secured at all times and never open a door to anyone they are not familiar with.