This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A man from New York showed up Friday to what he thought was his relative's empty home in Sandy but ended up being held hostage by a handgun-toting stranger.
The 26-year-old man was in town visiting when he arrived at the home at 3916 E. Alta Approach Road, according to Unified Police Detective Jared Richardson. The man went inside via a sliding door, but was soon confronted by a thief in his late 20s or early 30s who had a semi automatic handgun.
According to Richardson, the man tried to run away but the thief caught him and held him in the home for 45 minutes. Throughout the ordeal the thief continued to move through the home, stealing things.
Just as the thief was about to leave, the man's 30-year-old sister and 14-year-old niece also showed up. The thief then held the sister and niece hostage while he stole things from them. The thief then fled in a black Honda Accord.
Richardson said the three victims were shaken up by the incident. Police do not believe there was any relationship between the thief and the victims.
The thief stood about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed as much as 160 pounds. He wore a baggy, gray hoodie displaying the word "Puma" in red letters. He also wore baggy jeans, a blue baseball cap with a white brim, black "Mechanix" gloves and tan Timberland-style boots. Police also say he had a "weathered" look with bags under his eyes.
Investigators believe his car was a two-door Honda Accord built between 2002 and 2004. The car had a Utah licence plate that began with the letter "A." The rear window of the car prominently featured a sticker of a silver skull with diamond-shaped eyes.
Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is urged to call Unified Police at 801-743-7000.
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