Investigating home invasion, Winnetka police seek camera footage

With help from other area law enforcement, the Winnetka Police Department is “pursuing many investigative leads” in its search for an armed group that on Sunday burst into a home and held an individual at gunpoint, according to a message from WPD Chief Brian O’Connell sent Wednesday.

O’Connell says the department’s investigation is receiving assistance from “several” local and regional agencies, and police are requesting residents in the area of the incident, 700 block of Rosewood Avenue, to review any camera footage for images of the five suspects or their reported vehicle, a black Acura RDX SUV.

Police believe the suspects may have been present on “neighboring side streets” between 4-6 p.m. Sunday, March 8.

Anyone with footage or information of the crime is asked to contact the WPD at (847) 501-6034 or police@winnetka.org.

On Sunday, in the early evening, someone posing as a food-delivery driver used a handgun to force his way into a home on Rosewood Avenue. Four other armed offenders reportedly also entered the home, and they held an individual at gunpoint while asking for “specific items from the home,” police said in messages sent on Sunday.

The alleged victim, who was uninjured, reportedly was able to escape the home, and police were then called at approximately 5:30 p.m.

In his message on Wednesday, O’Connell said such incidents can quickly escalate.

“I would like to emphasize that incidents like these present a very real danger: These offenders are often immediately willing to escalate criminal acts to violent crimes, frequently with the use of a weapon,” he wrote. “We have seen this not only in our community but in other neighboring communities where similar incidents have occurred.

“It is critical that community members immediately report suspicious activity or vehicles to the police by calling 911.”

In May 2024, at least three armed individuals who broke into a Winnetka property on Sheridan Road were interrupted by the homeowner, leading to an exchange of gunfire in the residential setting.

That case remains unresolved, according to Winnetka police.

That summer, another armed incident — an attempted burglary of a resident sitting in their car — caused Winnetka leaders to put out a message to the community.

O’Connell cited the firearm-related crimes as just one reason that the department turned to private security to boost its community presence.

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