'Don't move': Police seek suspects captured on video stealing Peoria mom's keys at gunpoint

PEORIA — A doorbell camera captured two thieves stealing a Central Peoria mom's keys at gunpoint before driving off with her car Tuesday night.

On Thursday, Peoria police continued to seek the two suspects — apparently male juveniles, according to the department. The two, along with the crime, were recorded on a video posted by the victim to her Facebook page.

"These young kids walked right into my house behind me and stole my car keys from me," the woman wrote on the Facebook post, which had been shared almost 8,000 times as of early Thursday afternoon. "If you know them, please report them!

"... They’re armed and had a gun pointed right in my face!"

The woman got to her West Hanssler Place home shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday. Per the video, she uses her set of keys to open the door, and a slender male — clad in a medical face mask — runs from a nearby sidewalk to the doorway. With his right arm, he forces himself through the doorway. He raises his left arm, clutching a gun and pointing it at the woman.

He mumbles something, prompting her to scream.

"Don't move," he adds.

His partner, face unmasked, then runs to the doorway, goes just inside the home and waits about four seconds. He then dashes back outside, followed by the gun-toting accomplice, who is clutching the set of keys. Off camera, the two drive off in the woman's car, a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, police said.

The entire video lasts just 21 seconds.

In her post — made less than two hours after the attack — the woman thanked Peoria police for responding quickly and trying to track down the thieves.

"Thank you, Lord, that I’m good, my kids are good (and) we have somewhere to stay," she wrote.

The car was later recovered by police and processed for evidence, said Sgt. Erin Barisch. From the video, the thieves "appear to be juvenile in age," he said.

Aided by the video, the investigation is ongoing, Barisch said.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the crime, he urged Peorians to be vigilant.  

"We ask that members of the community pay particular attention to their surroundings and watch for things that don’t seem normal," he said. "Use well-lighted areas when you can, especially when visiting stores and businesses.

"Also, please remember that although all property is important, it can be replaced. Property is property: It’s not worth losing your life for."

The victim declined a Journal Star request for comment. However, in a follow-up Facebook post, she thanked commentators for hundreds of supportive comments. She said she was busy replacing her keys, car tires and license-plate brackets.

"But I’m happy items were taken and not the lives of me and my family," she said. "Pray I never have anyone point a gun at my face ever again. Thank you, Lord, for protecting us!!"

Phil Luciano is a Journal Star columnist. He can be reached at pluciano@pjstar.com and (309) 686-3155. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.