Columbia home and business robbed
A Columbia family and a Columbia business were robbed just two days after Christmas.
In the first robbery, a 15-year-old boy was assaulted in his home at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of Alpine Drive.
A news release from the Columbia Police Department said the suspect appeared to have entered through the front door, which was unlocked. There were no signs of forced entry. At the time of the burglary, the teenage boy was the only person in the house, CPD Sgt. Chris Kelley said.
“Apparently the young man had just finished taking his shower," Kelley said. "He came out of the bathroom and heard the assailant in the downstairs of his house.”
When the boy came out of the bathroom, the suspect punched him and pushed him into a wall, Kelley said.
The suspect then went up the stairs and fled out of the front door of the house. The boy tried to chase the suspect but was unsuccessful. The boy called 9-1-1 after chasing the suspect, stated the news release.
Nothing was taken from the house and the victim suffered no obvious injuries. The victim said the suspect was wearing all dark clothing and a dark ski mask, stated the news release.
In an unrelated incident, Tiger Cleaners, located at 3905 Peachtree Drive, was robbed Saturday around 10 a.m.
The suspect entered the business and demanded money from the clerk, a 52-year-old female from Columbia, stated a news release from the police department.
The suspect said he was armed, but no weapon was shown.
The suspect jumped over the counter and punched the woman as she began to open the cashed register, stated the news release.
The suspect then left an undisclosed amount of money. He was last seen running southbound from the business wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a plaid shirt and dark pants.
The victim was treated at the scene by medical personnel for minor injuries, but declined other medical assistance, stated the news release.
This is the first time this location has been robbed, Kelley said. Anyone with information about these crimes can call Crime Stoppers at 875-8477. Monetary rewards are offered for any information that leads to an arrest.