By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE –St. John the Baptist Parish authorities are investigating an aggravated burglary in LaPlace Monday in which a 72-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint inside his home, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office.

This incident comes less than a week after an elderly Edgard couple was robbed inside their home in a similar fashion. Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office said investigators do not believe the two incidents are related.

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, an unidentified man wearing a dark colored hoodie jacket, white sneakers and a bandana over his face entered a home on Palm Street through an unlocked front door around 2:20 a.m. Monday and walked toward a bedroom in the home.

“The victim was awakened by the bedroom light and noticed (the intruder) standing at the bedroom door,” Clement said. “The victim noticed an object protruding from the hand of the suspect and perceived it to be a handgun.”

Clement said the intruder rummaged through the victim’s clothes and took an identification card, a health card, and debit card. He also took a collection of coin change on top of a dresser in the bedroom before leaving the residence. Clement said the victim was not injured during the incident.

Clement said the suspect fled the area in an unknown direction. It is not clear whether the suspect was on foot or in a vehicle. Sheriff’s deputies canvassed the area looking for the intruder, but did not find him.

Anyone with information regarding this burglary should call St. John detectives at 985-359-8769 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.