Crime & Safety
Man Attacked Elderly Couple in Their Home, Stole $10: Police
Matthew Thom went to a Joliet Township house on the pretense of needing cab fare and then pushed his way, a Will County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said.
A Joliet man who forced his way into the home of an elderly couple on the pretense that he and his mother needed cab fare only to attack them and steal $10 was arrested on a slew of felony charges Thursday.
Matthew Thom, 30, of 4429 Timber Ridge, went to the house in the 1700 block of Aspen Lane in Joliet Township at about 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, Will County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said.
When the 69-year-old female resident answered the door, Thom told her that he and his mother lived in the area and needed cab fare, Hoffmeyer said. She told him she didn't have any money, but her 74-year-old male friend came to the door and offered him $10, she said.
At that point, Thom pushed his way into the home, shoving the woman down and causing her to strike her head on the hardwood floor, Hoffmeyer said. He punched the man in the face, pushed him to the floor and forcibly took the $10 bill out of his hand, she said.
A third resident -- a 27-year-old man -- came downstairs to investigate the commotion and he, too, was punched in the face. When Thom decided to flee, the man pursued him and got a description and license plate number of the vehicle he left in as well as a good look at the female driver, Hoffmeyer said.
Crest Hill police made a traffic stop on the vehicle at about 1:35 a.m. Thursday and notified the sheriff's office that the driver matched the description of the woman who helped Thom get away the previous day, she said.
Deputies spoke to the woman, who voluntarily came to the sheriff's office to be interviewed, Hoffmeyer said. While there, she admitted that Thom was waiting for her outside in her car and he was brought in for questioning as well, she said.
Thom was later taken into custody and charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a senior citizen, two counts of aggravated battery and one count each of home invasion, residential burglary and battery.
The female victim was transported to Silver Cross Hospital by the East Joliet Fire Department for treatment of a broken tailbone and head bruising, Hoffmeyer said. The men also went to Silver Cross after speaking with deputies, with the elder victim requiring treatment for injuries to his hand and face.
Thom is being held in the Will County jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. According to jail records, he was also arrested in June on charges of burglary and criminal trespass to residence.
When the 69-year-old female resident answered the door, Thom told her that he and his mother lived in the area and needed cab fare, Hoffmeyer said. She told him she didn't have any money, but her 74-year-old male friend came to the door and offered him $10, she said.
At that point, Thom pushed his way into the home, shoving the woman down and causing her to strike her head on the hardwood floor, Hoffmeyer said. He punched the man in the face, pushed him to the floor and forcibly took the $10 bill out of his hand, she said.
A third resident -- a 27-year-old man -- came downstairs to investigate the commotion and he, too, was punched in the face. When Thom decided to flee, the man pursued him and got a description and license plate number of the vehicle he left in as well as a good look at the female driver, Hoffmeyer said.
Crest Hill police made a traffic stop on the vehicle at about 1:35 a.m. Thursday and notified the sheriff's office that the driver matched the description of the woman who helped Thom get away the previous day, she said.
Deputies spoke to the woman, who voluntarily came to the sheriff's office to be interviewed, Hoffmeyer said. While there, she admitted that Thom was waiting for her outside in her car and he was brought in for questioning as well, she said.
Thom was later taken into custody and charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a senior citizen, two counts of aggravated battery and one count each of home invasion, residential burglary and battery.
The female victim was transported to Silver Cross Hospital by the East Joliet Fire Department for treatment of a broken tailbone and head bruising, Hoffmeyer said. The men also went to Silver Cross after speaking with deputies, with the elder victim requiring treatment for injuries to his hand and face.
Thom is being held in the Will County jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. According to jail records, he was also arrested in June on charges of burglary and criminal trespass to residence.
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