(IN) Senior citizen thwarts two home invasions 08-08-04

Address:http://www.chillicothegazette.com/news/stories/20040808/localnews/1004868.html
Sunday, August 8, 2004

Senior citizen foils two burglary attempts
70-year-old man wrestles down one suspect, shoots at others
By LISA ROBERSON
Gazette Staff Writer
Cristina A. McMain

Robert Gillum, of Douglas Avenue, recounts the events of a double
robbery that took place Wednesday night in his home . Gillum, 70,
thwarted the pair of burglary attempts, sending the would-be thieves
scurrying away without any money.

The message was clear, and it was delivered by a feisty 70-year-old man
twice in one night last week.

That message — I refused to be victimized.

Robert Gillum thwarted a pair of burglary attempts Wednesday in his
Douglas Avenue home, sending the would-be thieves scurrying away without
any money.

According to a police report, the elderly man was alone inside his home
watching television when, around 10:15 p.m., an unknown man came into
his house demanding money. Gillum told officers the man, whom he could
identify only as being 5 feet 6 inches tall with a medium build, raised
his arm and may have had a handgun inside a sock.

Before Gillum complied with the intruder’s request he lunged at the
thief and the two began to wrestle. Gillum was struck once in the mouth
with the intruder’s weapon. After the struggle, the man ran from
Gillum’s home while Gillum called police.

“I know he had a gun, but I guess I’m a little crazy,” he said. “I don’t
know why I did it. I just didn’t feel like being screwed around.”

The incident was shocking to Gillum, but before he was able to fully
gain his composure, he was faced with another would-be robber.

And just like the first time, the elderly man wouldn’t go down without a
fight.

The second attempted robbery took place about 90 minutes later, and this
time the attacker knocked Gillum to the floor, took his wallet and fled
the scene. Gillum got to his feet, grabbed a .410-caliber Derringer from
his living room and fired two shots at the suspect’s vehicle as it sped
away.

“He got away because I couldn’t catch him,” the elderly victim said.

Even after two attempts, the robbers may have actually left empty handed
because after the first attack, Gillum switched wallets.

The latter suspect reportedly fled in a late-model, tan-colored Toyota
or Honda with a black female in her late teens or early 20s inside whom
Gillum could identify only as “Christy”.

“I got my handgun and gave him a few buckshots,” he said. “That man was
lucky I didn’t have it in my pocket. I would have killed him. No doubt
about it.

“Oh, well, you can’t win ‘em all.”

The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security!!!