Cops: Robbers broke in, beat up homeowners

Two men have been charged with invading three homes Saturday on the North and Near West Sides, allegedly hitting residents with guns and stealing valuables at each location.

Aaron Smith, 22, and Joe Parker, 20, were arrested about 5 p.m. Saturday after Near North District police spotted them in stolen vehicle, according to a police News Affairs release.

Police claim Smith and Parker gained entry into a house in the 1100 block of West 13th Street just 30 minutes earlier, saying they had car trouble, the release said. Once inside, they allegedly struck two people in the head with a gun and robbed them of cash, electronics and telephones before fleeing in a blue vehicle with out-of-state license plates.

Police recovered a loaded .357 revolver and proceeds from the robbery in the vehicle, the release said. They were later identified as suspects in two other alleged home invasions Saturday, one in the 1800 block of West Cuyler Street — where they allegedly fired a bullet into the floor — and one in the 900 block of West Sheridan Road.

They allegedly kicked in the doors of both homes and struck victims in the head with a gun before robbing them of valuables, the release said.

Smith, of South Bend, Ind., was charged with six counts of home invasion and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, the release said. Parker, of the 5500 block of South Aberdeen Street, was charged with three counts of home invasion.

Both are scheduled to appear in bond court later Monday.

Victims injured in the home invasions were treated for lacerations at area hospitals and have been released as of early Monday, the release said.