Woman robbed by another woman at home, police say

A woman was robbed at her home in eastern Columbia on Thursday night by another woman, Columbia police said.

The suspect stole between $40 and $50 and drove off with the victim’s silver 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV, Columbia police Sgt. Kevin Hammond said.

The robbery occurred sometime before 9 p.m. in the 1800 block of Cliff Drive.

The 47-year-old victim told police she confronted the suspect inside the home in a hallway leading to the front door. The suspect was armed with a sharp object that police said may have been a pair of scissors, and she immediately restrained the victim with duct tape, Hammond said.

The suspect may have entered the house through the front door, which was unlocked. The victim told police she had come home shortly before the robbery.

The suspect stole the keys to the car, which police found abandoned early this morning near the 200 block of Old Highway 63.

Neighbors describe the neighborhood as quiet and crime-free.

Brad Pippen, who has lived on Cliff Drive for almost five years, said this is the first time he has heard of a home-invasion robbery on his street since his home was broken into four years ago when he first moved in.

MU professor Clyde Bentley said he was inside his nearby home on Cliff Drive when the incident occurred and was surprised when he learned about what happened to one of his neighbors.

“It’s the most unlikely neighboorhood for a crime,” he said.

In most home-invasion robberies the victim knows the perpetrator. Rarely does a home-invasion robbery occur in which the suspect and the victim are complete strangers, Hammond said.

It’s too early in the investigation of this particular incident for police to know if the victim knew the suspect, Hammond said.

Anyone with information should call CrimeStoppers, 875-8477.