LAKE PLACID (FOX 13) - A 93-year-old man was taken from his home and forced to withdraw money from an ATM, and now sheriff's deputies say they need the public's help identifying the masked suspect.
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office says it happened at a home on Serenade Drive in Sun 'n Lake South on August 18.
The victim said he heard his front door rattling around 9 p.m. Thinking it was a neighbor, he opened it but was faced with a masked, gun-wielding suspect instead.
The suspect forced the victim inside, searched the house for valuables, and took the victim's wallet. The victim says the suspect asked where guns were kept, but he said he didn't have any.
Deputies say that's when the masked intruder took the elderly man's car keys, forced the victim out of the house, and into the back seat of his own car.
Investigators say the suspect first drove to Heartland National Bank and then to Bank of America in unsuccessful attempts to get money from the victim's account.
The suspect then drove the victim back home, telling the man he would kill him if he called the police.
The elderly man suffered a minor injury on his arm when the suspect pushed him down.
Anyone who has any information about this suspect is asked to call Det. Dustin Campbell at 863-402-7250 or detectives@highlandssheriff.org or leave an anonymous tip with Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS or www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. Crime Stoppers tips are eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000.