Home invasion robberies targeting Hispanics have returned to Live Oak, with four such crimes recorded here in recent weeks, according to Live Oak Police Det. Sgt. Ron Shaw.

"We`re starting to get plagued by home invasion robberies again," said Shaw.

More than 25 such invasions targeted the Hispanic community last year. The four follow the same pattern, according to Shaw.

Robbers break girl`s piggy bank, take coins

Shortly after midnight Saturday four individuals forced their way into the front and back doors of a home shared by seven on Northwest Houston Avenue. The suspects fled the scene with a television set, a DVD player, a car stereo and a black wallet as well as an undetermined amount of cash, but not before smashing open a piggy bank belonging to one of the residents, a young girl.

LOPD Chief Buddy Williams said the little girl was present when the invaders smashed open the piggy bank to steal the coins inside. Williams said several officers purchased a new piggy bank, filled it with coins and presented it to the little girl.

"That little girl will now have a new sense of trust and caring from the police department," said Williams.

No injuries were reported in the invasion, said Shaw. One of the suspects displayed a semi-automatic while another displayed a revolver. They are described as black males, 5`9" to six feet tall and with thin to medium builds. Two of the suspects were wearing latex type gloves and the other two wore leather gloves. Shaw said they were all wearing black ski masks black short sleeve shirts and black sneakers.

Language barrier and intoxication means few clues

Two homes in the same area were invaded within an hour of one another May 1, Shaw said.

Around 10:52 p.m., two black males opened an unlocked door at a 2nd Street home, walked inside and struck one of the five occupants in the chin and demanded money.

"It was undetermined what struck the victim in the chin," said Shaw. "It was difficult to get information from them because of the language barrier."

The suspects fled the scene with an undetermined amount of cash in a southwest direction.

Shortly after around 11:30, two black males forced their way into a home in the same area on 2nd Street. Shaw said little to know information was received from the four victims at that residence.

Two victims struck repeatedly with weapon

On April 17 at around 10:15 p.m. two victims were struck several times in the head and body with guns after three black males entered their home through an unlocked door on Scriven Avenue. The two victims were robbed at gunpoint with a semi-automatic and one small caliber handgun.

"The door was unlocked because (the victims) knew another roommate was coming home later," said Shaw.

The suspects fled the scene with an undetermined amount of cash.

Shaw said last Monday, May 3 around 8 p.m. a Hispanic man was riding a bicycle on 5th Street near the intersection of Woods Avenue when two black males ran out of the shadows and pushed him off the bike. They demanded money and fled with cash and a cell phone.

They were described as about six feet tall, around 300 pounds with long dreadlocks. Both were wearing white T-shirts and long jean shorts. No injuries or weapons displayed were reported.

Shaw said all four robberies are being investigated as hate crimes.

Monday morning, fire officials and local investigators were called to a mobile home fire on Smith Street. A resident there, who declined to give her name, said earlier that morning she found a letter attached to her door which read: "Wanna know...You b****es are gonna pay."

That threat, the resident believes, is in reference to knowledge others may think she has regarding the shooting death of Marvin Lewis O`Hara, who died March 27.

After taking her child to school, the resident returned to find her home on fire.

"This has gotten too serious," the resident said. "Whoever is doing this thinks that we are getting too close to what we shouldn`t know."

Investigator Justin Bates of the Live Oak Police Department said the fire and the note are under investigation, and could not comment further.

However, the homeowner and family members were clearly shaken and infear for their lives.

"Someone broke into my house a few weeks ago," said the resident`s mother,

who stood outside the charred mobile home consoling her daughter.

"They are trying to scare us, and they have. We`re scared," the mothersaid.

The resident called the fire a blatant threat, saying, "They are trying to prove something. I think it`s someone who knows us enough to get this close to our home."

City Councilman John Hale, in whose district the mobile home sits, said he is worried about the safety of those involved and is pushing for a reward on information.

"We need all the public`s help in resolving this issue," he said. "I`ve spoken to Chief (Buddy) Williams to get this in motion, in both the possible arson and homicide investigation."

Neither Hale nor Williams are waiting for the situation to get worse.

"Those who are doing this obviously have no respect for human life," Halesaid. "I`ve talked to Williams and they are working around the clock onthis."

Williams Monday morning was in the process of contacting the local crimestoppers investigator to set up an alert and possible reward for anyone with relevant information.

"We`re assessing the situation, following up and investigating, and at our earliest convenience intend to put out public notice regarding this situation."