Chae, who owned and operated a beauty supply store, was attacked immediately after opening his garage door at about 5:00am on Friday. According to police, the assailants took his wife Janice Chae and the couple's two adult children, who had been sleeping upstairs, to the basement, where they were bound with duct tape. More here: Man slain during home invasion.
The fatal home invasion robbery came a month after police arrested five men accused of at least ten robberies in Delaware County and Southwest Philadelphia, some of which involved Asian business owners who were targeted and followed home. There is an obvious pattern here, and it needs to stop. Here's the request public assistance from the district attorney's office:
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE REQUESTED CONCERNING JANUARY 9TH MURDER OF ROBERT CHAEPolice are seeking three men believed to have fled in a dark sport utility vehicle. Montgomery Township detectives were soliciting tips from anyone who saw anything unusual between 5 and 6 a.m. on Gwynmont Drive, about a mile from Montgomery Mall. Anyone with information about the crime is being asked to call Montgomery Township detectives at 215-362-2300. More here: Grief, action after a killing.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COURT HOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., BOX 311, 19404-0311
PHONE (610) 278-3090 FAX (610) 278-3095
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: RISA VETRI FERMAN
FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: KEVIN R. STEELE
CHIEF COUNTY DETECTIVE: OSCAR P. VANCE, JR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2009
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE REQUESTED CONCERNING JANUARY 9TH MURDER OF ROBERT CHAE
Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Montgomery Township Police Chief Richard Brady are requesting the public assistance in providing information regarding the killing of Robert Chae. Mr. Chae was a 58 year old center city business owner. Mr. Chae owned and operated Penn Center Beauty Supply Center.
At about 6:00 AM on Friday, January 09, 2009, the Montgomery Township Police were dispatched to 139 Gwynmont Drive, North Wales, PA, on report of a burglary-in-progress at that location. Responding police officers learn that three black males entered the home through a garage door as it was opened by a resident of the home, as he was preparing to leave for work. The intruders assaulted the homeowner upon entry to the home. The homeowner's wife and two adult children were taken to the basement of the home were they were bound by duct tape. One actor remained in the basement to watch the adult children. The other two actors questioned the wife as to where the money was kept. The wife eventually took the actors to the safe and opened it.
At some point during the event, the wife fled the home through a basement door. The two actors who had gone to the safe came back downstairs and discovered the wife was not around. All males fled the home through the basement door and were last seen going toward cul-de-sac in the neighborhood. A dark colored SUV was seen leaving the area.
Anyone that may have observed anything suspicious is asked to contact the Montgomery Township Detective Bureau at 215-362-2300.
Approved for release:
Kevin R. Steele
First Assistant District Attorney