PROSPECT, Ky. (WDRB) --A high-end home invasion in one of Louisville’s most exclusive neighborhoods is now part of a broader investigation involving a suspected international theft ring, according to Prospect Police.
The break-in happened Saturday night in a quiet subdivision where a local attorney said masked men shattered a glass door and entered his home while he was in bed.
"I was in bed at 6:30, believe it or not, and the dog started barking — barking in an unusual manner," the homeowner told WDRB News. "So I reached into the drawer of the table next to my bed and pulled out my .44 Magnum pistol."
The homeowner, who asked not to be identified, said he came face-to-face with the masked intruders and fired at them as they ran from the home. The bullet missed but left holes in the wall — and a clear message: the house was not empty.
"I said, ‘What’s going on?’ And they turned around and took off, and I tried to shoot him. I missed, but I tried," the homeowner said.
Police said that unusual factor — someone being home — is what makes this incident different from several others.
"The South American theft gang — they come, they scout out ahead of time," said Prospect Police Chief Tony Denham. "Almost every other time, nobody’s home. That’s what made this one so unusual."
Chief Denham said the suspects are part of a well-organized criminal crew that targets luxury homes, usually in the eastern parts of Louisville and in other upscale areas across the state and region.
"We probably had from that group about four in the last four years," Chief Denham said. "They kick in the back door — be it to a bedroom or the general back door — and they’re looking for high-end items. Cash, jewelry, things like that."
According to police, the group avoids firearms and anything that can be traced. They’ve also been known to use WiFi jammers to disable security systems and cameras, unless the systems are hardwired.
"They have WiFi disruptors, where they can do cameras, alarms, different things like that," Chief Denham said. "If your alarm is hardwired, that defeats that."
The homeowner said he believes the group had been watching his house, waiting for a moment, when it appeared empty.
"There’s no doubt they had my house under surveillance for a period of time… to establish there was nothing going on inside," he said. "Everything was blacked out, and it was quiet."
He also believes the same group is responsible for similar break-ins in nearby subdivisions in recent years.
"Two years ago, there were two houses in the Breakers subdivision that were broken into… over $100,000 in property," he said. "Then last year, they hit the subdivision right next to this one — Innisbrook."
After the shooting, the suspects reportedly ran from the home, jumped a fence and fled through a wooded area before getting into an SUV and leaving the scene. The homeowner said one of the men was speaking Spanish on a cellphone, as they escaped.
Chief Denham said his department is working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to track the group and share information.
"They’re rarely going to come back to the same area," he said. "They’re in, they’re out, they’re on to the next town."
While police don’t believe the group is still in the area, they are urging homeowners to remain vigilant — especially those in high-end neighborhoods.
"Keep your alarms on, use cameras, especially in the back of your home, and keep everything well lit," Denham said.
The homeowner, though grateful no one was hurt, said this isn’t over.
"They won’t do it here again," he said. "They’ll do it in another subdivision… but they’ll be back next year. I have no doubt."
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